Compare towns
Durham vs Mapleton vs Rochester vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (20.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Rochester has the most renters (34% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Rochester | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,884Lowest |
33,144Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rochester 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Rochester 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Durham 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 23% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$96,309±$12k 19% above U.S. |
| 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 3% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$240,000±$37k 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72Highest 3% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,535 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #98 of 120 in NH | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rochester School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.