Compare towns
Dayton vs Limerick vs Mapleton vs Searsmont
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).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Limerick | Mapleton | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
3,400Highest |
1,884 |
1,646Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.5±9.8Highest about the ME average |
| Searsmont and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Dayton 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% |
17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Searsmont and Mapleton 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% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont 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 |
$101,172±$15k 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$87,000±$20kLowest 16% 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 |
$269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$940±$311 17% below ME |
| Limerick 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 |
$2,520 17% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,788 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont and Limerick 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 71 |
| 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 | 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.