Compare towns
Sidney vs Durham vs Belgrade vs North Berwick
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%).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Belgrade has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
North Berwick has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
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 | Durham | Belgrade | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
4,262 |
3,351Lowest |
5,129Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
47.3±14.6Highest 6% above ME |
41.6±4.7Lowest 7% below ME |
| Belgrade 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% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
21.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Belgrade 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.9%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Belgrade and North Berwick 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% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
49.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±2.1 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 |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$88,338±$13k 18% above ME |
$101,875±$16kHighest 36% above ME |
| North Berwick 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 |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$428,500±$33kHighest 44% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
— | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,105±$116 about the ME average |
| Sidney and North Berwick 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 |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,859 6% below ME |
$3,735 23% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
66.2%±28.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| North Berwick 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 ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.8% ME: 74.3% |
88.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
15%±5.8 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #71 of 133 in ME | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.