Compare towns
Durham vs Lee 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%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($481k 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.
| Measure | Durham | Lee | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
4,576 |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Lewiston 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% |
50.6%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% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Lee and Durham 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $986±$44 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Oyster River Coop School District | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.