Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Kennebunk
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Kennebunk has the oldest population (median age 54.6).
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 | Hanover | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
8,479Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
21.8±0.3 44% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.