Compare towns
Sidney vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Steep Falls | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,884 |
1,861Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
| Steep Falls 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 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$10k 12% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 18% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
— |
| Steep Falls and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 19% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 05 |
| High school 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 |
ME 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.