Compare towns
Durham vs Wells vs Naples vs Hanover
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | Wells | Naples | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,713 |
3,985Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Wells and Naples 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Naples 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,941±$625 37% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Naples 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. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$2,784Lowest 11% below 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% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.9%±40.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples and Hanover 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #118 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Wells High School | Lake Region High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
11.4 |
11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.