Compare towns
China vs Durham vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
4,262 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Durham 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.