Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
4,790 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Townsend 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Townsend 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.