Compare towns
Buxton vs Carmel vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Carmel has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Buxton | Carmel | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
2,941 |
2,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+2.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
46.4±4.5Highest 4% above ME |
43.5±8Lowest about the ME average |
| Carmel and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.5%±5 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Buxton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$82,188±$22k 10% above ME |
$63,178±$5kLowest 15% below ME |
| Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
$256,800±$37k 13% below ME |
$228,800±$22kLowest 23% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$1,276±$187 12% above ME |
$1,265±$400Lowest 11% above ME |
| Buxton and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$2,662 12% below ME |
$2,160Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±38.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Carmel and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Buxton and Carmel 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #77 of 133 in ME | #44 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | RSU 12 |
| 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 |
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.