Compare towns
Sidney vs Dixmont 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%).
Dixmont has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Dixmont | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,207Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Dixmont 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 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Dixmont 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Dixmont 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 |
$75,952±$14kLowest about the ME average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$190,700±$22kLowest 36% 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 |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
— |
| Dixmont 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 |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Dixmont and Durham 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% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 | RSU 19 | 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 |
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.