Compare towns
Searsmont 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
Searsmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Searsmont | Danforth | Dayton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,646 |
666Lowest |
2,313Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
42.1±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
| Danforth and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dayton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
| Dayton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311 17% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
| Dayton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,788 8% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Searsmont and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 15% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 71 | — | Dayton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.