What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).

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	Douglas	Durham
People
Population	9,207Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Douglas and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kLowest 54% above U.S.
	Douglas and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Durham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Douglas and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%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	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Douglas	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	12.3Highest
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.