Compare towns
China vs Levant vs Mapleton vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Levant has the youngest population (median age 39.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Levant | Mapleton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
3,069 |
1,884Lowest |
4,262 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
39.7±2.2Lowest 11% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
42.6±5.9Highest 5% below ME |
| Durham 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% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.1%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Mapleton 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% |
21.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$86,071±$22kLowest 15% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$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 |
$268,500±$27k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
| Durham and Levant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,370±$120Highest 20% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$2,580 15% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,781Highest 25% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.7%±14Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Levant 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% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1995Highest 18 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
31 minHighest 27% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±5.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | #124 of 133 in ME | — | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.