What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poland has the most homeowners (81.9%).

White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Poland	White River Junction
People
Population	5,954Highest	3,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.2±9.4Highest 14% above U.S.	33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S.
	Poland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Poland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Poland and White River Junction 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%	38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Poland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,557±$23kHighest 6% above U.S.	$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Poland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$283,600±$44kHighest 15% below U.S.	$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S.
	Poland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,198±$128Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S.
	White River Junction and Poland 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.	$5,651Highest 81% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.6%±30.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Poland and White River Junction 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%	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 6% above U.S.	15 minLowest 42% below U.S.
Work from home	21.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Poland and White River Junction 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	—
School district	RSU 16	—
High school in town	Poland Regional H S	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.