Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs Sutton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Topsham has the most expensive homes ($361k 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 | Sutton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
4,790 |
790Lowest |
9,706Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
| Durham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
— | $1,355±$642Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Topsham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$4,259Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Topsham 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.