Compare towns
Cavendish vs Durham vs Reading vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Cavendish | Durham | Reading | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
4,262Highest |
699Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 16% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6 17% above U.S. |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 29% below U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 22% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 27% above U.S. |
$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 05 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.