Compare towns
Buxton vs Hermon vs Gorham 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).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Poland has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Hermon | Gorham | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
6,727 |
18,300Highest |
5,954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+19.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
41.1±4.7 8% below ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% 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% |
21.6%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Hermon and Poland 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% |
20.4%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Hermon 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% |
37.6% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$96,629±$22k 29% above ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$333,600±$32k 12% above ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 42% above ME |
$1,406±$202 23% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,198±$128Lowest 5% above ME |
| Gorham and Buxton 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 |
$2,761Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,774 9% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.2%±19.1 ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Gorham 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% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
75.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
2000Highest 23 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Gorham 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 | #54 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Hermon Public Schools | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hermon High School | Gorham High School | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
12.9 |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.