Compare towns
China vs Dedham vs Limerick vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Dedham | Limerick | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,656Lowest |
3,400 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Dedham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Mapleton 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| China and Dedham 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% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dedham 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$101,172±$15k 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
| Dedham and Limerick 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 |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Limerick and Dedham 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Limerick and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Limerick and China 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.