What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).

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	Newfields	Durham
People
Population	2,023Lowest	4,262Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	42.6±5.9Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Newfields and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Durham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Durham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$99,181±$5kLowest 23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323 33% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfields and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields 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	—	#14 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfields School District	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.