Compare towns
Durham vs Saco vs Brewer
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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Saco | Brewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
20,819Highest |
9,652Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
| Saco and Brewer 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% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Saco 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% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Durham and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Durham and Saco 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Brewer 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #32 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Saco Public Schools | Brewer Public Schools |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Brewer High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| 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.