Compare towns
Sidney vs Methuen 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Methuen | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
53,475Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sidney and Methuen 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% |
31%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% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,061Highest 62% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older 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. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Methuen | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.