What stands out worked out from the figures below

Blue Hill has the oldest population (median age 48.6).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

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	Blue Hill	Durham
People
Population	2,813Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.6±8.2Highest 25% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	18.3%±7Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Blue Hill and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.6%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,377±$17kLowest about the U.S. average	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$399,500±$82kLowest 20% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Durham and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$638Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Blue Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,907Lowest 7% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	93.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Blue Hill and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 21% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	21%±9.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Blue Hill 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	#29 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Blue Hill Public Schools	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.3
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.