Compare towns
Durham vs Kittery vs Lee 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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Kittery has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Kittery | Lee | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,473 |
4,576Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 47% below U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Kittery and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Kittery 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% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Lee 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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% 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 |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% 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% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #3 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kittery Public Schools | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.