Compare towns
Dayton vs Hampton vs Saco
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 most kids (20.4% under 18).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Hampton | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
10,101 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Saco 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Hampton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Saco 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | — | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.