Compare towns
China vs Durham vs Mapleton
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Durham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
4,262 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Durham 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% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and China 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% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| China and Mapleton 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Durham 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 |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% 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 |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Durham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.