Compare towns
Buxton vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Poland has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
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 | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
10,144Highest |
5,954Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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% |
21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Poland 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% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$85,557±$23kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 7% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$283,600±$44kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,198±$128Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Williston and Buxton 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. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Williston 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9%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. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.