Compare towns
Sidney vs Lawrence vs Durham
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 oldest population (median age 43).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
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 | Lawrence | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
88,736Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Durham 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Lawrence 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. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$3,781Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Durham 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Lawrence | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.