The Town FilesDurham, Maine
Town in Androscoggin County · population 4,173 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $322,200
- Household income
- $99,181
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.6
Durham is a town of 4,173 people in Androscoggin County, Maine. The median home is worth $322,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). It ranks better for families than 99% of Maine towns, easier by car than 91% of Maine towns, more upscale than 82% of Maine towns.
How Durham ranks
Percentile among Maine towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maine towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Durham is worth $322,200, above the typical Maine town ($238,950). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $99,181, which is more affordable than 60% of Maine towns. 95.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Durham | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $322,200 | $238,950 |
| Median rent | — | $1,027 |
| Median household income | $99,181 | $68,967 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 95.4% | 82.4% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Durham
| People | Durham | Typical Maine town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 46.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.6% | 22.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 28.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 10.7% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 20.9% | 12.3% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 90.0% |
Weather in Durham
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 7.5°F. About 49.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.5 inches of snow (typical Maine town: 77.2 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Maine town. The strongest, an F0, struck on November 24, 2005 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 24, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 7, 1990.
Severe weather in Androscoggin County since 1996
Androscoggin County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4754: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3598: Hurricane Lee |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4522: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3444: Covid-19 |
| March 12, 2015 | Snowstorm | DR-4208: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Androscoggin County
Androscoggin County had 48,676 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,507 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Durham itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Durham
1 public school with 476 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Community School | PK-8 | 476 | 11.6 |
Towns near Durham
- Lisbon, ME5.1 mi · 9,711 people · home $258,300
- Lisbon Falls, ME5.2 mi · 4,182 people · home $245,700
- Lisbon, ME5.2 mi · 3,217 people · home $237,200
- Freeport, ME8.0 mi · 8,737 people · home $508,400
- New Gloucester, ME8.1 mi · 5,676 people · home $357,100
- Topsham, ME8.8 mi · 9,560 people · home $360,800
- Brunswick, ME8.9 mi · 21,756 people · home $376,300
- North Yarmouth, ME9.4 mi · 4,072 people · home $496,500
Durham questions
Is Durham, Maine a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Durham scores better for retirees than 26% of Maine towns and quieter than 47%. 16.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Durham?
The median owner-occupied home in Durham is valued at $322,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,181, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Durham?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 7.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.7 inches of precipitation a year and 77.5 inches of snow.
Does Durham get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Durham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on November 24, 2005. The typical Maine town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)