Compare towns

Dayton vs Exeter vs Sebago

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has the highest household income ($114k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Sebago has the most affordable homes ($298k median).

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.

MeasureDaytonExeterSebago
People
Population
2,313
16,151Highest
2,073Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±5.5
8% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
40.7±3.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Exeter 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
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter 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
41% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$78,438±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
Dayton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$398,200±$34k
20% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$298,000±$46kLowest
10% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,215±$867Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,533±$292
8% above U.S.
Exeter and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,872
24% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$2,543Lowest
18% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.3%±30.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Sebago 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 — #22 of 120 in NH —
School district Dayton Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Sebago Public Schools
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.