Compare towns
China vs Mapleton vs Middlesex vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
China has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
West Gardiner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Middlesex | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,884Lowest |
1,943 |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.8 12% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Gardiner and Middlesex 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 19% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$96,172±$30k 19% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$305,100±$42k 8% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,087±$150 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 19% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$2,282 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±9.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and West Gardiner 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 | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.