Compare towns
Dayton vs Appleton vs Limerick vs Hollis
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 expensive homes ($398k median).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Limerick has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Limerick | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
1,360Lowest |
3,400 |
4,872Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
43.8±4.2 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Limerick 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%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
16.8%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Limerick 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Hollis 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 |
$101,172±$15k 35% above ME |
$95,950±$24k 28% above ME |
| Dayton and Limerick 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±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$338,900±$27k 14% above ME |
| Dayton and Hollis 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 |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$1,372±$293 20% above ME |
| Limerick and Hollis 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 |
$2,520Lowest 17% below ME |
$2,625 14% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
48.9%±30.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
5.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Dayton and Hollis 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 | — | — | — | #88 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 | 4 photos → | 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.