Compare towns
Durham vs Calais vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Lewiston has the most renters (48.8% rent).
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 | Calais | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,713Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Durham and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lewiston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Calais and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Calais and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Calais and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | — | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.