Compare towns
China vs Ogunquit vs Mapleton vs West Gardiner
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
West Gardiner has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Mapleton | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,526Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,884 |
3,696 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.5±2.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner 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±$12k 29% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 19% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$305,100±$42k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,087±$150Highest 5% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,535 17% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,282 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.6%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 21% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| 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.