Compare towns
Buxton vs Newfields vs Standish vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Newfields | Standish | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
2,023Lowest |
10,662 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Buxton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Newfields School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.