Compare towns
Dayton vs Appleton vs Chapman vs Buxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% rent).
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 | Dayton | Appleton | Chapman | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
1,360 |
388Lowest |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
45.5±3.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$93,125±$17k 25% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% 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 | $398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% 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 | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— | $1,613±$266Highest 42% 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 | $3,872Highest 28% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Appleton 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 | Dayton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school 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.