Compare towns
Poland vs Waterboro vs Minot
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%).
Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Minot has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Waterboro | Minot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,954 |
8,055Highest |
2,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.2±9.4 about the ME average |
42±3.1Lowest 6% below ME |
49±6.1Highest 9% above ME |
| Minot and Poland 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% |
22.5%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waterboro 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% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Minot 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 ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
25.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Minot and Waterboro 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 14% above ME |
$89,392±$16k 20% above ME |
$95,655±$17kHighest 28% above ME |
| Minot and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,600±$44kLowest 4% below ME |
$297,000±$23kHighest about the ME average |
$294,900±$26k about the ME average |
| Waterboro and Minot 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 |
$1,200±$461Highest 5% above ME |
$878±$801Lowest 23% below ME |
| Waterboro and Poland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,774Highest 9% below ME |
$2,772 9% below ME |
$2,602Lowest 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.6%±30.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.2%±12.5 ME: 48.4% |
35.7%±40.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Poland and Waterboro 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% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
96%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
10%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Poland and Minot 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 | #80 of 133 in ME | #78 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 16 | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 16 |
| High school in town | Poland Regional H S | Massabesic High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.