Compare towns
Durham vs Lee vs South Berwick
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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Lee | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
4,576Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Lee and South Berwick 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% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and South Berwick 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% 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. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Berwick 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.