Compare towns

Sidney vs Epping vs Durham vs China

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 the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Epping has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.

MeasureSidneyEppingDurhamChina
People
Population
4,790
7,430Highest
4,262Lowest
4,526
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
45.1±3.5Highest
16% above U.S.
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
40.9±5.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Epping 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%
18.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and China 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%
22.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Epping and China 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%
37%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Epping 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
3% above U.S.
$104,220±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
$96,309±$12k
19% above U.S.
Epping 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
about the U.S. average
$436,900±$35kHighest
31% above U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
$240,000±$37kLowest
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,340±$304Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
— —
Epping 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.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
$2,535
19% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
10.6%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
14.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Epping 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 #77 of 120 in NH #14 of 133 in ME #27 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 Epping School District RSU 05 RSU 18
High school in town None in town Epping High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet 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.