Compare towns
Durham vs Kennebunk vs Rockport
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%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 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 | Kennebunk | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,820 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7 25% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Rockport 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rockport and Kennebunk 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% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Rockport 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% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% 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% |
5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% 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. |
$469,000±$50kLowest 41% 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±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Durham and Kennebunk 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. |
$5,764 85% 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% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Rockport 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% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 21 | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Kennebunk High School | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.6Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.