Compare towns
Durham vs Worcester vs Sidney vs China
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 homeowners (95.4%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Worcester | Sidney | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
831Lowest |
4,790Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and China 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
| Durham and China 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% 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 | — | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% 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. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,535 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest 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 | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 18 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.