What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).

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	Lancaster
People
Population	4,262Lowest	8,606Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S.	43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S.
	Lancaster and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Durham and Lancaster 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%	19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lancaster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Durham and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S.	$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.	$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,338±$539 65% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.	$7,235Highest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lancaster 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 U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Nashoba
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.