What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the oldest population (median age 40.5).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Standish	Durham
People
Population	10,662Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.5±2.8Highest 4% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Standish and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham and Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.3Lowest
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.