Compare towns
China vs Durham vs Mapleton 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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Palermo has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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.
| Measure | China | Durham | Mapleton | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
4,262 |
1,884 |
1,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
| Palermo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| China and Palermo 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% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest 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% |
3.2%±2 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±$25k 23% above ME |
$89,095±$15kLowest 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 |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below 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 | — | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% 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% |
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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.