Compare towns
China vs Mapleton vs Peru
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,884 |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
| Peru and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| China and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
| Peru and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535Highest 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Peru 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% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| China and Mapleton 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 56 |
| 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 |
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.