What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most kids (21.2% under 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Berwick	Durham
People
Population	5,129Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±4.7Highest 7% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and North Berwick 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	#82 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Noble High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.