Compare towns
Durham vs Somerville vs Unity vs Sidney
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%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Somerville | Unity | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
837Lowest |
1,858 |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
33.5±11.3 25% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% 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%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6 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% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.4%±3.6Highest 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% |
25.7% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,340±$304 18% 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 |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Unity 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% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Unity 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 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.