Compare towns
Durham vs Kennebunk vs Lebanon vs Durham
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 highest household income ($124k).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
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 | Kennebunk | Lebanon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,820 |
14,999 |
10,681Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
| Durham and Durham 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 |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Lebanon 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 21 | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Kennebunk High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.6Lowest |
11.7 |
— |
| 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.