Compare towns
Dayton vs Wakefield vs Buxton
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%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Buxton has the most renters (19.7% 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 | Wakefield | Buxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,313Lowest |
5,405 |
8,512Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Buxton 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% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dayton and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Buxton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dayton and Buxton 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 41% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,200±$34kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,215±$867Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
$1,613±$266Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Buxton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,872Highest 24% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$3,422 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dayton and Buxton 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dayton and Wakefield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | #104 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Dayton Public Schools | Wakefield School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.