Compare towns
China vs Edgecomb vs Durham
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).
Edgecomb has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Edgecomb | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,251Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41±8.8 8% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
| Durham and Edgecomb 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% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 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% |
24.5%±7.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Edgecomb 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% |
39.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb 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 29% above ME |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
| Edgecomb 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 |
$348,400±$36kHighest 17% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Edgecomb and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Durham and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
90.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6Highest 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 | Edgecomb Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| 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.