What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the most people working from home (10%).

Dixfield has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

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	Carthage	Dixfield
People
Population	845Lowest	2,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.1%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,107±$18kHighest 6% above ME	$70,613±$9kLowest 6% below ME
	Carthage and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME	$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$811±$262Highest 29% below ME	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME
	Carthage and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME	$2,324Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	10%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Carthage and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 56
High school 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.