Compare towns

Durham vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k 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.

MeasureDurhamDoverLewiston
People
Population
4,262Lowest
5,930
38,324Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
44.9±2.3Highest
15% above U.S.
37.3±1.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Dover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±1.5
U.S.: 22%
Dover 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%
16.7%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lewiston and Dover 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%
84.8%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%
7.2%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lewiston and Dover 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.
$250,001Highest
210% above U.S.
$55,393±$4kLowest
31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
$1,340,300±$117kHighest
303% above U.S.
$235,100±$8kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,917±$2kHighest
106% above U.S.
$986±$44Lowest
30% below U.S.
Dover 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$2,899Lowest
7% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.7%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lewiston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
34.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #14 of 133 in ME #1 of 282 in MA #132 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Dover · Dover-Sherborn Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy
High school in town None in town Dover-Sherborn Regional High Lewiston High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
14.7Highest
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.