What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.2).

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	Bethel	Durham
People
Population	2,617Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.2±6.4Highest 29% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	15.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bethel and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,929±$23kLowest 27% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$344,900±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$864±$43Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,835Lowest 9% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.3%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	27.7%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethel 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	#49 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 44/MSAD 44	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Telstar High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.