Compare towns
Dayton vs Rye vs Bowdoin
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bowdoin has the most affordable homes ($293k 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 | Rye | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
5,611Highest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Rye and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dayton and Bowdoin 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 41% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 20% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$292,800±$71kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
— |
| Rye and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872 24% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,375Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Rye School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.