Compare towns
Sidney vs Bethlehem vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Bethlehem | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
2,537Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% 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. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
— |
| Sidney and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #34 of 120 in NH | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.