Compare towns
Belgrade vs Durham vs Orrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orrington has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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.
| Measure | Belgrade | Durham | Orrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.5±3.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Orrington and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belgrade and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$94,556±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Durham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$309,000±$49kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,167±$135 17% below U.S. |
| Durham and Orrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.9%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #41 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Oyster River Coop School District | Orrington Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.