Compare towns
China vs Exeter vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Exeter | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest 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%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| China and Mapleton 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school 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.