Compare towns
Poland vs Lancaster vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.9%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
8,606Highest |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Poland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Poland and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128 15% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,417 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #81 of 133 in ME | #145 of 282 in MA | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Nashoba | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| 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 |
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.