Compare towns

Durham vs Proctor vs West Gardiner

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 people working from home (20.9%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k 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.

MeasureDurhamProctorWest Gardiner
People
Population
4,262Highest
1,586Lowest
3,696
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
47.3±8.9Highest
22% above U.S.
43.5±2.8
12% above U.S.
Proctor and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
Durham and West Gardiner 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%
23.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Proctor and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
West Gardiner and Durham 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
23% above U.S.
$75,060±$12kLowest
7% below U.S.
$96,172±$30k
19% above U.S.
Durham and West Gardiner 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.
$206,000±$20kLowest
38% below U.S.
$305,100±$42k
8% below U.S.
Durham and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,059±$200Lowest
25% below U.S.
$1,087±$150Highest
23% below U.S.
West Gardiner and Proctor 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.
$3,944Highest
26% above U.S.
$2,282Lowest
27% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.4%±15.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±9.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
West Gardiner and Proctor 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%
10%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±7.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and West Gardiner 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 — #90 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 — RSU 11/MSAD 11
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.