Compare towns
Poland vs Troy vs Unity 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%).
Troy has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Buxton has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Troy | Unity | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,954 |
984Lowest |
1,858 |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
49.3±13.6Highest 10% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
| Troy and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±7 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Poland and Troy 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% |
27%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Troy 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,557±$23k 14% above ME |
$44,583±$14kLowest 40% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$100,144±$21kHighest 34% above ME |
| Buxton and Poland 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 |
$213,000±$31k 28% below ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$128 5% above ME |
$1,255±$211 10% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
| Buxton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774 9% below ME |
$1,752Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,422Highest 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.2%±44.5 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6% ME: 10.7% |
17.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9% ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
50 minHighest 102% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
25.3%±8.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Troy 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 | — | — | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 12.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.