What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).

Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Jefferson
People
Population	4,262Highest	2,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	+5.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME	38.1±4.9Lowest 15% below ME
	Durham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jefferson and Durham 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%	18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Jefferson and Durham 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%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%	4.6%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Jefferson 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 33% above ME	$85,078±$17kLowest 14% above ME
	Durham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME	$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above ME
	Durham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,120±$130 about the ME average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Highest 25% above ME	$2,587Lowest 15% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	29.8%±25.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Jefferson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%	83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%	8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 133 in ME	#45 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 05	Jefferson Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.