Compare towns
China vs Mapleton vs Albion
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Mapleton | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest 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±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$230,900±$31k 22% below ME |
| China and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277 46% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Albion 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.