Compare towns
China vs Mapleton vs Wheelock vs Sidney
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 highest household income ($96k).
Mapleton has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Wheelock | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526 |
1,884 |
717Lowest |
4,790Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Sidney 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Wheelock 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 19% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
| 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±$37k 28% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— | $1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 19% below U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$2,937Highest 6% below U.S. |
$2,474 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mapleton and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Sidney 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 | — | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 18 |
| 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 |
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.