Compare towns
Lyman vs Calais vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Dayton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Lyman | Calais | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$398,200±$34kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Dayton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
| Calais and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,872 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Dayton Public Schools |
| 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.