Compare towns
Sidney vs Troy vs Unity 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%).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Troy | Unity | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Highest |
984Lowest |
1,858 |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
| Troy 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% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Troy 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% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 12% above ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% 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±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
— |
| Sidney and Troy 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 |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Troy and Unity 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% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Troy and Durham 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.