Compare towns
Buxton vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
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 | Strong | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
1,249Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
40.5±2.8Lowest 10% below ME |
| Strong and Buxton 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% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Standish 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% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong 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% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below 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 |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% 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 |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
| Buxton and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | — | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.