Compare towns
China vs Durham vs Wayne
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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
4,262 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and China 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kLowest 25% 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±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $983±$554 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%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 min 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
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.