Compare towns
Durham vs Gray vs Gorham vs Newington
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 most affordable homes ($364k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
8,429 |
18,300Highest |
939Lowest |
| 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% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Gray 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% |
15.7%±4.9 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% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$6,081 95% 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% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newington 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Gorham 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 | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Gorham Public Schools | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
12.5 |
12.9Highest |
— |
| 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.