Compare towns
China vs Exeter vs Stetson 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Stetson has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Stetson | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,151 |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1 6% below ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
| Exeter 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 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson 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% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6 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% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham 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±$12k 29% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$76,023±$28kLowest about the ME average |
$99,181±$5kHighest 33% 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±$37k 19% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$205,700±$34k 31% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
— |
| Exeter and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
87.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6 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 | — | — | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.