What stands out worked out from the figures below

Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Buxton	Thorndike
People
Population	8,512Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
	Buxton and Thorndike 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%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Buxton and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Buxton and Thorndike 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	$78,438±$14kLowest 5% above ME
	Buxton and Thorndike 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	$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME	$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,422Highest 13% above ME	$2,537Lowest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Thorndike 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%	6.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 39% above ME	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Thorndike 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	—
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	None in town	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.