Compare towns
Durham vs Manchester vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% 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.
| Measure | Durham | Manchester | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
2,424Lowest |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME |
46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Manchester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop 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% |
22.6%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop and Manchester 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 ME: 36.2% |
47.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
40% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Winthrop 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 |
$92,031±$16k 23% above ME |
$86,470±$4kLowest 16% above ME |
| Durham and Manchester 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 |
$299,600±$40k about the ME average |
$294,800±$41kLowest about the ME average |
| Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $993±$116Highest 13% below ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Manchester and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,486Lowest 15% above ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±18.6 ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Winthrop and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.5% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | — | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 38 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.