What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phippsburg has the oldest population (median age 54.3).

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	Phippsburg	Durham
People
Population	2,238Lowest	4,262Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	54.3±6.3Highest 21% above ME	42.6±5.9Lowest 5% below ME
	Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.5%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	19.7%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	34.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	34.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Durham and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,833±$19kHighest 44% above ME	$99,181±$5kLowest 33% above ME
	Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,800±$47kHighest 13% above ME	$322,200±$34kLowest 9% above ME
	Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,022±$346 10% below ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,034Lowest 33% below ME	$3,781Highest 25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.5%±98.7Highest ME: 48.4%	25%±40.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Phippsburg and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	95.4%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	11.7%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Durham and Phippsburg 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 01 - LKRSU	RSU 05
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.