Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs Somerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Somerville has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Sidney | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
4,790Highest |
837Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$218,100±$41kLowest 26% below ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304Lowest 18% above ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.