What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).

Orange has the highest household income ($119k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Orange
People
Population	4,262Highest	320Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S.	41.3±9.1Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Durham and Orange 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%	20.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2%	20%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orange 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S.	$118,750±$39kHighest 47% above U.S.
	Orange 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±$34kHighest 3% below U.S.	$302,600±$35kLowest 9% below U.S.
	Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.	$5,132Highest 65% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Orange 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1986 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.8%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Orange 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	—
School district	RSU 05	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.