Compare towns
Carthage vs Dixfield vs Stetson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carthage has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Carthage | Dixfield | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,300Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.1% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Dixfield 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% |
14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Dixfield and Stetson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Stetson and Dixfield 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 |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Carthage and Stetson 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±$24k 46% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Dixfield 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 |
$800±$377 30% below ME |
| Carthage and Stetson 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 |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Dixfield 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% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson and Carthage 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 | 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.