Compare towns
Durham vs Appleton vs Lewiston vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Lewiston has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Auburn has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Durham | Appleton | Lewiston | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,360Lowest |
38,324Highest |
24,602 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.3±1.2Lowest 17% below ME |
41.4±2.7 8% below ME |
| Appleton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±2.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Auburn and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$55,393±$4k 26% below ME |
$66,647±$5k 11% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$235,100±$8kLowest 21% below ME |
$282,000±$12k 5% below ME |
| Durham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$986±$44Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,041±$74 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,899Lowest 5% below ME |
$3,687 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±7.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
59.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
1954Lowest 23 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
11.5%±2.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | — | #132 of 133 in ME | #110 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Appleton Public Schools | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy | Auburn Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lewiston High School | Edward Little High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.