Compare towns
China vs Kennebunk 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).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526 |
11,820Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
54.6±3.3Highest 22% above ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.7%±3Lowest 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% |
30%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Kennebunk 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 |
$107,804±$8kHighest 44% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
| Kennebunk 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 |
$487,700±$21kHighest 64% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,425±$290 25% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$4,999Highest 65% above ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.1%±10.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Kennebunk 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% |
7.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
80.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
32.5%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Kennebunk 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 21 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.