Compare towns
Durham vs Kennebunk vs Plymouth vs Dover
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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Plymouth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
11,820 |
6,601Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4 37% below U.S. |
36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Kennebunk and Dover 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% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Durham and Kennebunk 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. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Durham and Kennebunk 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 |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Dover and Durham 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. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 21 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Kennebunk High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.6Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.