Compare towns
Sidney vs Wayne vs Winthrop 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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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 | Wayne | Winthrop | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790 |
1,101Lowest |
6,191Highest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 4% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney and Winthrop 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 12% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
| Durham and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k 13% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Wayne and Sidney 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 |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
— |
| Sidney and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 19% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Wayne 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
30 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Winthrop 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.