Compare towns

Sidney vs Brookfield 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%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).

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.

MeasureSidneyBrookfieldDurham
People
Population
4,790Highest
1,486Lowest
4,262
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
Brookfield 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%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
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%
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham and Brookfield 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.
$98,500±$23k
22% above U.S.
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
Durham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
Brookfield and Sidney 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.
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
—
Sidney and Brookfield 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.
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.4%±27.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Brookfield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield 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 — #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.