Compare towns
Madbury vs Wells vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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.
| Measure | Madbury | Wells | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
11,713 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Madbury and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 11% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Madbury 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.