Compare towns
Durham vs Windham vs Ellsworth
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).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Windham | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
19,188Highest |
8,657Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
43±2.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ellsworth and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Ellsworth 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Durham and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Windham 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. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Ellsworth 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 14 | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Windham High School | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.