Compare towns
Buxton vs Jefferson 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).
Jefferson has the most kids (28% 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 | Jefferson | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
2,647 |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
38.1±4.9Lowest 15% 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% |
28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson 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% |
18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Jefferson 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% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Jefferson 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 |
$85,078±$17kLowest 14% 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 |
$311,600±$35kLowest 5% above 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 |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$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 |
$2,587Lowest 15% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dayton and Jefferson 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% |
3.4% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Jefferson 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Jefferson Public Schools | 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 |
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.