Compare towns
Sidney vs Braintree 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Braintree | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,026Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Braintree 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 3% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% 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. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
— |
| Sidney and Braintree 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. |
$3,908Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Braintree 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Braintree 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 |
| School district | RSU 18 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.