What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bangor has the oldest population (median age 41).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bangor	Durham
People
Population	31,938Highest	15,080Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±1.3Highest 5% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,942±$7kLowest 26% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,600±$10kLowest 34% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,055±$43Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,076Lowest about the U.S. average	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Bangor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 37% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	10.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#37 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Bangor Public Schools · Bangor-Region 4	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Bangor High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	12.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	51 photos →

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.