What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buckfield has the oldest population (median age 37.7).

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buckfield	Thorndike
People
Population	2,403Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±10.1Highest 16% below ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Buckfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.7%±7.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Thorndike and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.7%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Buckfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Buckfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,917±$41kLowest 4% above ME	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
	Thorndike and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,700±$18kHighest 23% below ME	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME
	Buckfield and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME	$836±$317Highest 27% below ME
	Thorndike and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,860Highest 6% below ME	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Thorndike and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	6.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 25% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	15.6%±12.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 10	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Buckfield Jr-Sr High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.