Compare towns
China vs Danforth vs Durham vs Palermo
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
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.
| Measure | China | Danforth | Durham | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
452Lowest |
4,262 |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
51.9±5.3Highest 16% above ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Danforth and Palermo 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% |
14.8%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 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%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Palermo 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 |
$42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$89,095±$15k 19% 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±$37k 19% below ME |
$85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Durham and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
— | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±71.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo 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% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Palermo 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 05 | RSU 12 |
| 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 | 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.