What stands out worked out from the figures below

Manchester has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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	Manchester	Durham
People
Population	2,424Lowest	4,262Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.9±4.6Highest 5% above ME	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME
	Manchester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Manchester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,031±$16kLowest 23% above ME	$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME
	Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$299,600±$40kLowest about the ME average	$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME
	Durham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$116 13% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,486Lowest 15% above ME	$3,781Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±18.6Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Manchester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 19% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	11.9%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Durham and Manchester 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	—	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 38	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

ME 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.