Compare towns
Oakland vs Calais 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
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
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 | Oakland | Calais | Poland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,309Highest |
1,713Lowest |
5,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
44.2±9.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Poland and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$85,557±$23k 6% above U.S. |
| Calais and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$283,600±$44k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$74Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,198±$128 15% below U.S. |
| Calais and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$2,774 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.6%±30.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — | #81 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town | Poland Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.2Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.