What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

Rockland has the shortest commute (12 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dayton	Rockland
People
Population	2,313Lowest	7,035Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	49.3±6Highest 10% above ME
	Rockland and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1%	15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dayton and Rockland 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%	25.4%±4.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	35.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dayton and Rockland 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	$56,533±$6kLowest 24% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME	$245,800±$38kLowest 17% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME	$1,092±$105Lowest 4% below ME
	Dayton and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,872Lowest 28% above ME	$4,059Highest 34% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4%	57.6%±15.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Rockland 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 ME: 10.7%	10.4%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	62%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME	1948Lowest 29 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 26% above ME	12 minLowest 50% below ME
Work from home	16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	22.1%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Rockland 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	—	#96 of 133 in ME
School district	Dayton Public Schools	Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13
High school in town	None in town	Oceanside High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.