Compare towns
Durham vs Needham 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 the most homeowners (95.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Winterport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
32,459Highest |
3,850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±5.5Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Needham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winterport and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winterport and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$283,000±$43kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,646Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.8%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #53 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 22 |
| High school 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.

