Compare towns
Durham vs Lawrence vs China
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 the most people working from home (20.9%).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Lawrence | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
88,736Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
40.9±5.9 5% above U.S. |
| Durham and China 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$415,200±$23kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 21% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Durham 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and China 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 | #278 of 282 in MA | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Lawrence | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6 |
— |
| 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.