Compare towns
China vs Limerick vs Mapleton vs Sumner
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 homeowners (91.8%).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Limerick | Mapleton | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
3,400 |
1,884 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and China 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Limerick and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
38 min 53% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Limerick 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 | RSU 10 |
| 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 | 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.