Compare towns
China vs Mapleton vs Wayne vs Palermo
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 highest household income ($96k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Palermo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Wayne | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,884 |
1,101Lowest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME |
| China and Wayne 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
| Palermo and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,506 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Palermo 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 38 | RSU 12 |
| 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.