Compare towns
Durham vs Cavendish vs West Gardiner
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%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Cavendish | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Highest |
1,242Lowest |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Cavendish and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and West Gardiner 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% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish and West Gardiner 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% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Gardiner and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Durham and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Durham and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150Highest 23% below U.S. |
| West Gardiner and Cavendish 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. |
$3,948Highest 27% above U.S. |
$2,282Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Gardiner and Cavendish 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Cavendish 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 | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.