What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mapleton	Dayton
People
Population	1,884Lowest	2,313Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME	42.1±5.5Highest 6% below ME
	Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1%	20.4%±4Lowest 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+	18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4%	14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Mapleton and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.3%Highest ME: 36.2%	27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Lowest 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	$91,731±$25kLowest 23% above 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	$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME	$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME	$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME
	Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,789Lowest 41% below ME	$3,872Highest 28% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	38%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	89.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest same as ME	1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% above ME	31 minHighest 26% above ME
Work from home	10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9%	16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dayton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 79/MSAD 01	Dayton Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.