Compare towns
Dayton vs Appleton vs Sebago
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 highest household income ($114k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,073 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.7±3.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Appleton and Dayton 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% |
19.8%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Sebago 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% |
17.4%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago 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% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Appleton 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 |
$78,438±$15k 5% above ME |
| Dayton and Sebago 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 |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Sebago 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 |
$2,543Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Sebago 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% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Sebago Public Schools |
| 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 |
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.