Compare towns
Dayton vs Upton vs Saco
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 the youngest population (median age 42.1).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
8,189 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Saco 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% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Saco 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% |
43.5% 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% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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 41% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above 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±$34kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Saco and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Saco 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.