Compare towns
Buxton vs Thomaston vs Hollis
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).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Thomaston | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
2,769Lowest |
4,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
43.8±4.2Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Thomaston and Hollis 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis 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 |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$95,950±$24k 28% above ME |
| Buxton and Hollis 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 |
$271,700±$10kLowest 8% below ME |
$338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
| Buxton and Hollis 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 |
$1,262±$343Lowest 11% above ME |
$1,372±$293 20% above ME |
| Buxton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,625Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston and Hollis 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% |
6.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Hollis and Buxton 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 13 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.