Compare towns
Dayton vs Hampton vs Biddeford
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% 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 | Hampton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
16,426 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Biddeford 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below 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±$34k 20% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Dayton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older 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%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Dayton 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 | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.