Compare towns
Dayton vs Upton vs Buxton vs Biddeford
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%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Biddeford has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Upton | Buxton | Biddeford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
8,189 |
8,512 |
22,498Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Upton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,613±$266Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100 9% below U.S. |
| Buxton and Biddeford 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #104 of 133 in ME | #111 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Biddeford Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Biddeford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
— | 14.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.