Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Buxton

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Falls on Saco River, West Buxton, MEPhoto: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
A−Health Grade
Health in Buxton · CDC PLACES 2025

On CDC estimates, Buxton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns

Buxton differs from Maine on 15 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 14 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04093. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Buxton

Binge drinking is the habit Buxton doesn’t win on

18.4% of adults binge drink, vs 15.5% across Maine, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓

Heart disease and COPD are less common in Buxton

Buxton runs below Maine on four chronic conditions, most of all heart disease (6% vs 7.6%), COPD (6.7% vs 8.4%) and stroke (2.9% vs 3.6%). Conditions ↓

Buxton is an active town

Only 19.3% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 23.1% across Maine. The town has 19 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves. Habits ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Maine figure falls outside Buxton’s likely range; Buxton’s figures come from ZIP code 04093, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Buxton’s grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buxton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #30 of 143 in Maine. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 90% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (better than 50%).

A−Self-rated health15.7% · ME 18.7% · U.S. 19.4%
A−Physical distress12.2% · ME 14.3% · U.S. 13%
B−Mental distress17.1% · ME 17.7% · U.S. 15.9%
B+Obesity32.5% · ME 32.7% · U.S. 32.9%
ADiabetes9.1% · ME 11.2% · U.S. 12%
B+Smoking13.1% smoke · ME 14.4% · U.S. 11.8%
AExercise19.3% · ME 23.1% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 79%
Less healthyHealthier
Maine towns we grade (143)Healthier than 80%
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $75K–$125K (8,574)Healthier than 72%

Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Buxton’s median household income is $100,144; among the 8,574 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($75K–$125K), it’s healthier than 72%, about where its income would put it.

A fairly firm grade. With every estimate at the unfavorable or the favorable end of CDC’s likely range, Buxton could be anywhere from B− to A. These are ZIP code figures (ZIP 04093), weighted by land area, which can reach past town lines.

How TownRatings grades health →

★ What stands out · Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Maine

Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.

Get no exercise 19.3%ME 23.1%
Sleep under 7 hours 31.4%ME 32.8%
Binge drink 18.4%ME 15.5%
Smoke cigarettes 13.1%ME 14.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Buxton, betterBuxton, worseAbout the sameMaine
Where Buxton gets moving

19 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Buxton adults…

Buxton runs below ME on 7 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

6 of every 100 Buxton adults have heart disease
Maine: 8 in 100 · better · likely 5.4–6.7%
Better than MEWorseAbout the sameMaine
Getting care

Care in and near Buxton

No hospital or community health center in Buxton itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERMainehealth Maine Medical CenterPortland · 13.3 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyMainehealth Maine Medical Center★★★★★ · 13.3 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNasson Health Care - BiddefordBiddeford · 11 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
11 mi
Nasson Health Care - Biddeford
Biddeford · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
11.3 mi
Portland Community Health Center
7 sites · nearest in Portland
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
13.3 mi
Mainehealth Maine Medical Center
Portland · ★★★★★
ER
13.7 mi
Northern Light Mercy Hospital
Portland · ★★★★★
ER
29.7 mi
Bridgton Hospital
Bridgton · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
32.4 mi
Frisbie Memorial Hospital
Rochester · ★★★★★
ER
✓ Primary careBuxton is not a shortage area
✓ Dental careBuxton is not a shortage area
✓ Mental healthBuxton is not a shortage area

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Buxton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas.

Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Buxton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.

80%Yearly checkupME 81%
68%Dentist visitME 64%
88%Cholesterol checkME 87%
71%Colon screeningME 71%
82%MammogramME 80%
76%Taking BP medsME 76%
1 in 15
working-age adults has no health insurance
Buxton 6.6% · Maine 1 in 13 (7.8%)
Mind & connection

How Buxton adults are doing

About the same as Maine on each measure.

3 in 10Buxton adults feel lonely
30.8% · ME 32% · About the same as ME
1 in 4Buxton adults lack social or emotional support
22.3% · ME 22.7% · About the same as ME
1 in 4Buxton adults have been diagnosed with depression
25.4% · ME 26.9% · About the same as ME
1 in 6Buxton adults are in frequent mental distress
17.1% · ME 17.7% · About the same as ME
The one neighbors can help with

3 in 10 Buxton adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 13
Buxton adults worry about having enough food
7.9% · ME 10.7%
Better than ME
1 in 12
Buxton adults worry about keeping their housing
8.3% · ME 9.8%
About the same as ME
1 in 17
Buxton adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
5.9% · ME 7.4%
Better than ME
1 in 16
Buxton adults lack reliable transportation
6.2% · ME 7.8%
Better than ME

9.6% of Buxton adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.

Around town

Buxton and the towns around it

Buxton’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 6 graded towns around it.

Hollis: 34.5%Dayton: 33.7%Gorham: 26.2%Standish: 28.7%Saco: 32.4%Waterboro: 34.4%Limington: 35.4%Lyman: 34%Biddeford: 33.7%Windham: 26.9%Little Falls: 27%South Windham: 27%North Windham: 27.2%Scarborough: 25.3%Westbrook: 27.8%Steep Falls: 31.8%Raymond: 27.2%Sebago: 30.4%Baldwin: 30.6%Old Orchard Beach: 33.9%Buxton: 32.5%BuxtonHollisDaytonGorhamStandishSacoMainehealth Maine Medical Center · Portland · 13.3 mi · 4★ MedicareHNorthern Light Mercy Hospital · Portland · 13.7 mi · 4★ MedicareHNasson Health Care - Biddeford · Biddeford · 11 mi+Greater Portland Health at Popham Street · Portland · 11.3 mi+
Healthier than MENear MELess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#14 of 21 towns on this map, healthiest first
Gorham26.2%
Standish28.7%
Saco32.4%
Buxton32.5%
Dayton33.7%
Hollis34.5%
ME32.7%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
BuxtonA−32.5%9.1%13.1%ZIP 04093
HollisB34.5%10.2%15.6%ZIP 04042
DaytonB33.7%9.7%14.8%ZIP 04005
GorhamA26.2%8%11.2%ZIP 04038
StandishB+28.7%9.7%14.2%ZIP codes
SacoA−32.4%9.1%12.6%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

28.6%

of Buxton adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs10.8%
Thinking or memory14.7%
Hearing6.9%
Errands alone6.4%
Vision3.3%
Dressing or bathing2.7%
Maine

Every CDC estimate for Buxton

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Buxton is better than Maine on 14 and worse on 1; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Buxton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…BuxtonMEU.S.vs ME
Overall health
Fair or poor health15.7%13.7–1818.7%19.4%Better
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)12.2%10.7–13.714.3%13%Better
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)17.1%15.2–19.117.7%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity32.5%28.5–36.632.7%32.9%About the same
Diabetes9.1%8–10.311.2%12%Better
High blood pressure32.5%29.9–35.235.7%34.4%Better
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)35.7%32.9–38.537.4%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.8%26.4–31.332%25.3%Better
Asthma12.7%11.4–1412.6%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.5%8.7–10.39.9%7.9%About the same
Coronary heart disease6%5.4–6.77.6%6.4%Better
COPD6.7%5.7–7.78.4%6.3%Better
Stroke2.9%2.6–3.23.6%3.4%Better
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)9.1%7.5–10.914.8%12.3%Better
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13.1%11–15.414.4%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work19.3%16.7–22.423.1%24.7%Better
Binge drinking18.4%16.1–20.915.5%15.4%Worse
Sleep under 7 hours31.4%27.8–35.232.8%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)6.6%5.4–8.17.8%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year79.9%77.2–82.381.2%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year68.1%65.3–70.863.8%63.2%Better
Cholesterol check in 5 years88.1%86.4–89.787.1%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)76%73.1–78.576.4%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)70.9%67.5–74.370.5%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)81.9%77.4–85.980.3%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression25.4%22.8–28.226.9%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely30.8%27.8–3432%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support22.3%19.7–25.122.7%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food7.9%6.5–9.510.7%15%Better
Worried about keeping housing8.3%7–9.99.8%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off5.9%5–6.97.4%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation6.2%5.3–7.17.8%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.6%7.9–11.514.3%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability28.6%25.5–31.732.1%30.1%Lower
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs10.8%9.4–12.514%13.6%Lower
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.7%12.9–16.515.5%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty6.9%6.1–7.68.4%6.7%Lower
Vision difficulty3.3%2.9–3.74.4%5.4%Lower
Difficulty doing errands alone6.4%5.6–7.38.1%7.9%Lower
Difficulty dressing or bathing2.7%2.4–3.13.5%3.8%Lower

Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Maine figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Buxton

Is Buxton a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Buxton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #30 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 72%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Buxton?

CDC estimates 32.5% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.5% and 36.6%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Buxton?

Mainehealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, 13.3 miles in a straight line from Buxton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.

How many people in Buxton have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 6.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.4–8.1%), against 7.8% across Maine.

How accurate are these numbers?

They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Buxton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Buxton.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.