Compare towns
Sidney vs Durham vs Belgrade
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Belgrade has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
15,080Highest |
3,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47.3±14.6Highest 22% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Durham and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,859 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #71 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.