Compare towns
Buxton vs Unity 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 the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
1,858Lowest |
10,662Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
| Buxton and Standish 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% |
16.4%±3.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Standish 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% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Standish 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% |
36%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% 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 |
$873±$73Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Standish and Unity 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% |
7.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.