Compare towns
Dayton vs Mapleton vs Hope vs Buxton
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Buxton has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Mapleton | Hope | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313 |
1,884 |
1,748Lowest |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.5±3.9Highest about the ME average |
| Buxton and Hope 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.2%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
30.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$86,766±$6kLowest 16% above ME |
$100,144±$21k 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Buxton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$373,400±$33k 26% above ME |
$356,800±$21k 20% above ME |
| Dayton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,219±$182 7% above ME |
$1,613±$266Highest 42% above ME |
| Buxton and Hope 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,842 27% above ME |
$3,422 13% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
26.9%±26.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Dayton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3% ME: 10.7% |
2.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | — | — | — | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None 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.