Compare towns
Sidney vs Durham vs Oakland
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
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 | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
15,080Highest |
6,309 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.2±6.9 3% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest 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% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$939±$74Lowest 34% 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 | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% 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% |
65.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #23 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 | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
14.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.