Compare towns

Winthrop vs Northfield 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

Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
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.

MeasureWinthropNorthfieldDurham
People
Population
6,191Highest
5,920
4,262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.6±5.3Highest
12% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
42.6±5.9
10% above U.S.
Winthrop and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Winthrop and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Winthrop and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,470±$4k
7% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$41k
11% below U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
$322,200±$34kHighest
3% below U.S.
Durham and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,018±$207Highest
28% below U.S.
—
Northfield and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,506Lowest
12% above U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
27 minLowest
3% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Winthrop 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 #12 of 133 in ME #42 of 70 in VT #14 of 133 in ME
School district Winthrop Public Schools Paine Mountain Union School District #68 RSU 05
High school in town Winthrop High School Northfield Middle/High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
10.0Lowest
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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.