Compare towns
Durham vs York 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 homeowners (95.4%).
York has the most expensive homes ($636k median).
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 | York | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262Lowest |
13,986Highest |
4,526 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 5% below ME |
49.5±5.2Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±5.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| York 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% |
21.1%±3.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| York 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 ME: 22.4% |
27.9%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| York 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% ME: 36.2% |
53.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Durham and China 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 |
$121,250±$25kHighest 62% above ME |
$96,309±$12kLowest 29% above ME |
| York 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 |
$636,400±$30kHighest 115% above ME |
$240,000±$37kLowest 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,490±$336 31% above ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 25% above ME |
$4,658Highest 53% above ME |
$2,535Lowest 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9 ME: 48.4% |
56.5%±10.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| York 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% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
24 minLowest 4% below ME |
30 minHighest 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6 ME: 15.9% |
26%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| York and Durham 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 | #13 of 133 in ME | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | York Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | York High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.