Compare towns

China vs Cushing vs Durham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
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.

MeasureChinaCushingDurham
People
Population
4,526Highest
1,460Lowest
4,262
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.8%
ME: +2.6%
-2.1%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+8.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
40.9±5.9Lowest
9% below ME
48.8±7.7Highest
9% above ME
42.6±5.9
5% below ME
Cushing and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.4%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
19.7%±4.6
ME: 18.1%
China and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.5%±0.9
ME: 22.4%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
China and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
38.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.8%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
4.9%±3.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
Durham and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,309±$12k
29% above ME
$83,500±$19kLowest
12% above ME
$99,181±$5kHighest
33% above ME
Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,000±$37kLowest
19% below ME
$409,800±$44kHighest
38% above ME
$322,200±$34k
9% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,553±$376
36% above ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,535Lowest
17% below ME
$3,944Highest
30% above ME
$3,781
25% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
10.6%±25.1Lowest
ME: 48.4%
33.7%±19.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
25%±40.9
ME: 48.4%
Cushing and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
ME: 10.7%
7.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
4.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.8%
ME: 74.3%
84.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
95.4%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1990Highest
13 yrs newer than ME
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
21% above ME
23 minLowest
5% below ME
28 min
13% above ME
Work from home
12.6%±4.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.5%±6.3
ME: 15.9%
20.9%±5.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Durham and Cushing 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 #27 of 133 in ME — #14 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 18 RSU 13 RSU 05
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

ME 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.