Compare towns
Durham vs Buxton vs China
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%).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% rent).
China has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Buxton | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
8,512Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Buxton and Durham 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% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest 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+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 33% above ME |
$100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$96,309±$12kLowest 29% above ME |
| Buxton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 9% above ME |
$356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
| Buxton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,613±$266 42% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
$2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Buxton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | 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 |
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.