Compare towns

Strafford vs Durham vs Cornwall

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).

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.

MeasureStraffordDurhamCornwall
People
Population
1,372
4,262Highest
1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
32% above U.S.
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
50.4±4.6
30% above U.S.
Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Strafford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,833±$19k
37% above U.S.
$99,181±$5kLowest
23% above U.S.
$114,583±$32kHighest
42% above U.S.
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40k
30% above U.S.
$322,200±$34kLowest
3% below U.S.
$458,000±$49kHighest
38% above U.S.
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789
20% below U.S.
—
$1,125±$206
20% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$6,726
116% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
24 min
11% below U.S.
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
24.4%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Cornwall 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 Strafford School District RSU 05 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.