Compare towns
Lyman vs Wakefield 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 most people working from home (18.9%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Wakefield | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,612 |
5,405Highest |
2,313Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
42.1±5.5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±4Highest 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+ | 26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Wakefield 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% |
26.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dayton and Lyman 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. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24kHighest 41% 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 | $360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$322,800±$43kLowest about the U.S. average |
$398,200±$34kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| 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±$522Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,375±$434Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,215±$867 14% below U.S. |
| Wakefield 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. |
$2,954 5% below U.S. |
$3,872Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.7%±44.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dayton and Lyman 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Wakefield School District | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.