Compare towns
Naples vs Durham vs Wiscasset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Wiscasset has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Naples | Durham | Wiscasset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985 |
15,080Highest |
3,874Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.8±6.3 25% above U.S. |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wiscasset and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13k 3% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$71,118±$37kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48k about the U.S. average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$325,200±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,518±$485 7% above U.S. |
| Naples and Wiscasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,550 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.6%±15.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples and Wiscasset 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #108 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Oyster River Coop School District | Wiscasset Public Schools |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Oyster River High School | Wiscasset Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.