Compare towns
Buxton vs Wayne vs Poland vs Berwick
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 highest household income ($100k).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
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.
| Measure | Buxton | Wayne | Poland | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
1,101Lowest |
5,954 |
8,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Poland 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26k 25% above ME |
$85,557±$23kLowest 14% above ME |
$94,771±$24k 27% above ME |
| Buxton and Berwick 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 |
$362,800±$29k 22% above ME |
$283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
$369,100±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
| Berwick and Wayne 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 |
$983±$554Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$1,452±$430 27% above ME |
| Buxton and Berwick 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 |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$2,774Lowest 9% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Berwick 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Poland 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 | — | #81 of 133 in ME | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 38 | RSU 16 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.