Compare towns
Durham vs Gray vs Gorham vs Lebanon
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Gray has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Gray | Gorham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
8,429Lowest |
18,300Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Durham and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #10 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Gorham Public Schools | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Gorham High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.5 |
12.9Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.