Compare towns
Searsmont vs Mapleton vs Dayton vs Appleton
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Dayton has the most expensive homes ($398k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Mapleton | Dayton | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,646 |
1,884 |
2,313Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
42.1±5.5 6% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 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+ | 21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
14.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$113,750±$24kHighest 52% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below 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 | $284,000±$31k 4% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$398,200±$34kHighest 34% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $940±$311 17% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,215±$867Highest 7% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
| Dayton and Appleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,872Highest 28% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Searsmont 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.3%±10.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 71 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Dayton Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.