Compare towns
Buxton vs Mapleton vs Berwick 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
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 | Mapleton | Berwick | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,512Highest |
1,884Lowest |
8,175 |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.7±2.9Lowest 9% 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.7%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Berwick and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.2%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Buxton and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
35%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above ME |
$94,771±$24k 27% 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$369,100±$19k 24% above ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Berwick 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,452±$430 27% above ME |
$1,215±$867 7% above ME |
| Buxton and Berwick 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$4,436Highest 46% above ME |
$3,872 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.6%±46Highest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Berwick 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
4.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 39% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
20.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Berwick 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.