Compare towns
Buxton vs Poland vs Standish
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 most expensive homes ($357k median).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Poland | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
5,954Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Standish 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% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Poland 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% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
| Standish 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±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
| Buxton and Standish 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 |
$1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$983±$453Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Standish 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% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Standish 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 16 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.