Compare towns
China vs Ogunquit vs Durham 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 most affordable homes ($240k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
Palermo has the most renters (8.8% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Durham | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,262 |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| China and Durham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.8% ME: 36.2% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Ogunquit 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 29% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$89,095±$15kLowest 19% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$259,700±$54k 12% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $1,235±$1k 8% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,781 25% above ME |
$2,506Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Palermo and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
4.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3% ME: 74.3% |
95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 21% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #27 of 133 in ME | — | #14 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | — | RSU 05 | RSU 12 |
| 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 |
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.