Compare towns
Durham vs Orange 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 expensive homes ($322k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Orange | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
320Lowest |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±9.1 6% above U.S. |
40.9±5.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| China and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Durham and Orange 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 23% above U.S. |
$118,750±$39kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$96,309±$12kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Orange 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±$34kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$302,600±$35k 9% below U.S. |
$240,000±$37kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Durham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$5,132Highest 65% above U.S. |
$2,535Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
10.6%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and China 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham and Orange 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 |
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.