What stands out worked out from the figures below

Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

Dixfield has the most affordable homes ($161k median).

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	Appleton	Dixfield
People
Population	1,360Lowest	2,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME
	Dixfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Appleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Appleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME
	Dixfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME	$160,900±$24kLowest 46% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,588Highest 18% above ME	$2,324Lowest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Appleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 23% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Appleton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Appleton Public Schools	RSU 56
High school in town	None in town	Dirigo High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.6
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.