Compare towns
Appleton vs Dayton vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Dayton has the most expensive homes ($398k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Dayton | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
2,313Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
| Dayton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
— |
| Dayton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 18% above ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Dayton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.