Compare towns
Dayton vs Ogunquit 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 kids (20.4% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Searsmont has the most affordable homes ($284k 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.
| Measure | Dayton | Ogunquit | Searsmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Highest |
1,379Lowest |
1,646 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Searsmont 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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±$24k 52% above ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$87,000±$20kLowest 16% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34k 34% above ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$284,000±$31kLowest 4% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
— | $940±$311Lowest 17% below ME |
| Dayton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 28% above ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,788Lowest 8% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont and Dayton 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.