Compare towns
Sidney vs Dedham vs Belgrade 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Dedham | Belgrade | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,656Lowest |
3,351 |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Belgrade and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Sidney 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
49.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade 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±$10kLowest 12% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
| Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
— |
| Dedham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Durham and Belgrade 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% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Belgrade 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 | — | #71 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 18 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.