Compare towns
Durham vs Sidney vs Worcester vs Lisbon
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 highest household income ($99k).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Lisbon has the most renters (25.2% rent).
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 | Worcester | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
4,790 |
831Lowest |
9,750Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Worcester and Sidney 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Worcester and Sidney 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Lowest 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% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$77,819±$9k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$258,300±$26kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| 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±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Worcester 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,324 7% 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% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Worcester 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Durham 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 | — | #60 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lisbon Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 15.8 |
| 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.