Compare towns
Durham vs Lancaster vs Winterport
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%).
Lancaster has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Winterport has the most affordable homes ($283k 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.
| Measure | Durham | Lancaster | Winterport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
8,606Highest |
3,850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±5.5Lowest 9% 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2Lowest 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% |
19%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Winterport 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% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winterport 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±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$283,000±$43kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$2,646Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.8%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Winterport 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6Lowest 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 | #53 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Nashoba | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.