Compare towns

Durham vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureDurhamPutneyLewiston
People
Population
4,262
2,622Lowest
38,324Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.9Highest
10% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
37.3±1.2
4% below U.S.
Durham and Lewiston 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lewiston 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%
18.1%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lewiston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$55,393±$4kLowest
31% below U.S.
Durham and Putney 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.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$235,100±$8kLowest
29% below U.S.
Durham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$986±$44Highest
30% below U.S.
Lewiston and Putney 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.
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$2,899Lowest
7% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.7%±5.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Lewiston 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%
16%
U.S.: 12.5%
20%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Durham and Putney 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 #32 of 70 in VT #132 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 05 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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 6 photos → 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.