Compare towns
Buxton vs Canton vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Buxton | Canton | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
1,191Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Buxton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Buxton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 13% above ME |
$2,277Lowest 25% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 39% above ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Canton 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 | — | 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.