Compare towns
Durham vs Appleton vs China vs Winthrop
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
China has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Durham | Appleton | China | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,360Lowest |
4,526 |
6,191Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
43.6±5.3 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5kHighest 33% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Durham and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34kHighest 9% above ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Durham and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,506 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
12.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
92.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop and Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | — | #27 of 133 in ME | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.