Compare towns
Sidney vs Penobscot 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%).
Penobscot has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Penobscot | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
1,154Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Penobscot 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% |
18%±6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
32.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Sidney 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 15% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$296,400±$58kLowest about the ME average |
$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±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,141±$33Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Sidney and Penobscot 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 |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Penobscot 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 | Penobscot Public Schools | 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 |
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.