Compare towns
Buxton vs Poland vs Winthrop
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%).
Winthrop has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Winthrop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
5,954Lowest |
6,191 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
43.6±5.3Lowest 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% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Winthrop 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% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.4%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Winthrop 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% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
40%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
$86,470±$4k 16% above ME |
| Buxton and Winthrop 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 |
$294,800±$41k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$892±$319Lowest 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$3,506Highest 15% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.8%±22.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Winthrop 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% |
12.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
23.1%±6.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Winthrop 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 | #12 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 16 | Winthrop Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | Winthrop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.