What stands out worked out from the figures below

China has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).

Waterville has the most renters (51.2% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	China	Waterville
People
Population	4,526Lowest	17,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±5.9Highest 9% below ME	35.5±2.5Lowest 21% below ME
	China and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	14.4%±2.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	China and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	China and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	30.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	18.1%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME	$53,580±$4kLowest 28% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME	$184,600±$21kLowest 38% below ME
	China and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$978±$72 14% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,535Lowest 17% below ME	$2,755Highest 9% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4%	50.5%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line	6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	20.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	48.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME	1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 21% above ME	18 minLowest 27% below ME
Work from home	12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.6%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Waterville and China 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	#105 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 18	Waterville Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	Waterville Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.