Compare towns
Poland vs Danforth vs New Gloucester vs Buxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% rent).
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 | Poland | Danforth | New Gloucester | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,954 |
666Lowest |
5,766 |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
40.1±5.5Lowest 10% below ME |
45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| New Gloucester and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8% ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$108,797±$12kHighest 46% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44k 4% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$357,100±$29kHighest 20% above ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
| New Gloucester and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$249 about the ME average |
$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774 9% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,417 13% above ME |
$3,422Highest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.7%±12Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and New Gloucester 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.