What stands out worked out from the figures below

York has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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	York	Durham
People
Population	13,986Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±5.2Highest 27% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	27.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,250±$25kLowest 50% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$636,400±$30kHighest 91% above U.S.	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,490±$336Highest 5% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	York and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,658Lowest 49% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and York are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	26%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	York 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	#13 of 133 in ME	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	York Public Schools	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	York High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.