What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Wiscasset has the oldest population (median age 48.8).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Wiscasset
People
Population	15,080Highest	3,874Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	48.8±6.3Highest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Wiscasset and Durham 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%	28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$71,118±$37kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Durham and Wiscasset 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.	$325,200±$26kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,518±$485Highest 7% above U.S.
	Wiscasset 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.	$3,550Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.6%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.4%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wiscasset 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	#108 of 133 in ME
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Wiscasset Public Schools
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Wiscasset Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 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.