Compare towns
Durham vs Mapleton vs Sidney
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Mapleton | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.