Compare towns
China vs Durham vs Standish
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 most affordable homes ($240k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526 |
4,262Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Durham and China 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% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest 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%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Durham 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% ME: 36.2% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kLowest 29% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
| Standish 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 19% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$336,000±$18kHighest 13% above ME |
| Standish and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $983±$453 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 05 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.