Compare towns
South Windham vs Buxton vs Mapleton vs Liberty
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
Buxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Liberty has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | South Windham | Buxton | Mapleton | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,212 |
8,512Highest |
1,884 |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 36.5±13.2Lowest 19% below ME |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
| Buxton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 3.6%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.3%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Liberty and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% ME: 36.2% |
30.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| South Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,223±$21kHighest 78% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,146±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
| South Windham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $314,300±$81k 6% above ME |
$356,800±$21kHighest 20% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Buxton and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,824±$2kHighest 60% above ME |
$1,613±$266 42% above ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| South Windham and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,941 3% below ME |
$3,422Highest 13% above ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Liberty and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 24.5%±15.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| South Windham and Liberty 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 | — | #104 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.