Compare towns
Buxton vs Unity vs New Gloucester
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 oldest population (median age 45.5).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
1,858Lowest |
5,766 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
40.1±5.5 10% below ME |
| Buxton and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and New Gloucester 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% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
| New Gloucester 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±$21k 20% above ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
| New Gloucester 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
| Buxton and New Gloucester 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and New Gloucester 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.