Compare towns
Buxton vs Gray vs Windham vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k 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 | Buxton | Gray | Windham | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
8,429 |
19,188Highest |
5,954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.5% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
| Buxton and Poland 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% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Gray and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
44.2% ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Gray and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$95,236±$8k 27% above ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
| Windham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$363,700±$20k 23% above ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
| Windham and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$1,371±$89 20% above ME |
$1,232±$332 8% above ME |
$1,198±$128Lowest 5% above ME |
| Buxton and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$3,683 21% above ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Gray 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% |
3.5% ME: 10.7% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
29 min 16% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Windham 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 14 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Windham High School | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.