Compare towns
Sidney vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Chester | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
2,992Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%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% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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 3% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% 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. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Sidney 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #49 of 70 in VT | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.