Compare towns
Poland vs Rye vs Buxton
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
5,611Lowest |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Poland and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$44kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Poland and Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | Rye School District | 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 |
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.