Compare towns
Buxton vs Williston vs Gorham
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 affordable homes ($357k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Williston | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Lowest |
10,144 |
18,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Buxton and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
| Williston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Gorham 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Gorham 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Gorham Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.