Compare towns
Sidney vs Appleton vs Durham vs Belgrade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sidney | Appleton | Durham | Belgrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,262 |
3,351 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
| Appleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
| Durham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$312,200±$44k 5% 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 | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
| Sidney and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Belgrade 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | — | #14 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 05 | 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 |
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.