Compare towns
Durham vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
648Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
37.3±1.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Durham and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$55,393±$4kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$235,100±$8kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$986±$44Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,899Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lewiston and Nelson 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% |
20%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #132 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Nelson 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 | 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.