Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Lyndeborough 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Mapleton | Lyndeborough | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,884 |
1,616Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
— |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Lyndeborough 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 |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.