Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
China has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Exeter | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,093Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Exeter 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest 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% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and China 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kLowest 13% above ME |
$96,309±$12k 29% 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386 13% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781Highest 25% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter and Durham 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | — | RSU 18 |
| High school 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.