Compare towns
Lyman vs Mapleton vs Danforth vs Dayton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
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 | Mapleton | Danforth | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,612Highest |
1,884 |
666Lowest |
2,313 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
| Lyman and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,284±$14k 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $360,400±$44k 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Dayton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$522 7% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
| Dayton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,717 11% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dayton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 35% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | 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 | None yet |
ME 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.