Compare towns
Durham vs Mapleton vs Steep Falls 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 the most people working from home (20.9%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Steep Falls has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Steep Falls | China |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,262 |
1,884 |
1,861Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4% ME: +2.6% |
+1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.1±6.5Highest about the ME average |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Steep Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| China and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
31.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| 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 33% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,280±$33kLowest 7% 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
$240,000±$37k 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
— |
| Steep Falls and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,273 8% above ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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 | 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.