Compare towns
Buxton vs Castle Hill vs Mapleton vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Dayton has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Castle Hill | Mapleton | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
281Lowest |
1,884 |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
57.8±15.8Highest 29% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±5.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
44.8%±6.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
26.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±5.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Mapleton 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 |
$54,250±$14kLowest 27% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above 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 |
$145,300±$18kLowest 51% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% 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 |
$950±$574 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Castle Hill 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% |
4.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Mapleton 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 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.