Compare towns

Sidney vs Crystal vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Crystal has the most affordable homes ($129k 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.

MeasureSidneyCrystalDurham
People
Population
4,790Highest
247Lowest
4,262
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
+8.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43±5.5
4% below ME
63.2±8.4Highest
41% above ME
42.6±5.9Lowest
5% below ME
Kids under 18
23.1%±5.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
16.2%±11.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.7%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
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
ME: 22.4%
49%±5.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.5%
ME: 36.2%
22.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2
ME: 5.8%
0%±6.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±3.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
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±$10k
12% above ME
$48,125±$13kLowest
36% below ME
$99,181±$5kHighest
33% above ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$336,200±$34kHighest
13% above ME
$129,200±$60kLowest
56% below ME
$322,200±$34k
9% 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±$304Lowest
18% above ME
$1,563±$922Highest
37% above ME
—
Crystal and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,474
19% below ME
$943Lowest
69% below ME
$3,781Highest
25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
14.3%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
25%±40.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
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%
ME: 10.7%
14.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.8%
ME: 74.3%
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
19 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
about the ME average
27 min
10% above ME
28 minHighest
13% above ME
Work from home
14.3%±5.9
ME: 15.9%
0%±15.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
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 — #14 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 — RSU 05
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.