What stands out worked out from the figures below

Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

Dixfield has the most people working from home (5%).

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	Anson	Dixfield
People
Population	2,331Highest	2,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Anson and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME	$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$928±$62Highest 19% below ME	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME
	Anson and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,572Lowest 48% below ME	$2,324Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 5 yrs older than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 32% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 74/MSAD 74	RSU 56
High school in town	Carrabec High School	Dirigo High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.6Highest
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.