Compare towns
Newington 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
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Newington | Wells | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 939Lowest |
11,713 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±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 | $145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% 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 | 62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% 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 | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest 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 | Newington 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.