Compare towns
Buxton vs Webster vs Poland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
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 | Webster | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
2,227Lowest |
5,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,557±$23kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Webster 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 7% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$283,600±$44kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Buxton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$1,198±$128Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Buxton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Poland and Webster 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 |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.