Compare towns
Buxton vs Poland vs Wayne
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 highest household income ($100k).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
5,954 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
44.2±9.4Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Buxton 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% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
| Buxton and Wayne 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 |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Wayne and Buxton 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±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Buxton 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%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 |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Poland 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 16 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.