Compare towns
Durham vs Thorndike vs Lewiston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
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 | Thorndike | Lewiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,403Lowest |
38,324Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
37.3±1.2 17% below ME |
| 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%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.6%±1.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Lewiston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±1.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Lewiston 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
10.1%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$55,393±$4kLowest 26% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$235,100±$8k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$986±$44Highest 13% below ME |
| Lewiston and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,537Lowest 16% below ME |
$2,899 5% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
51.7%±5.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Lewiston and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
20%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
51.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
21 minLowest 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Lewiston Public Schools · Acadia Academy |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt View High School | Lewiston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.