Compare towns
Buxton vs Gorham vs Unity 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($207k median).
Dayton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Gorham | Unity | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512 |
18,300Highest |
1,858Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
$112,312±$6k 50% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Gorham 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 |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 42% above ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Gorham and Buxton 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,510Lowest 17% below ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham and Dayton 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
12.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.