Compare towns
Carthage vs Mapleton vs Dixfield
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).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Mapleton | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
1,884 |
2,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dixfield and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$18k 6% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$70,613±$9kLowest 6% below ME |
| Mapleton and Carthage 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$658±$287 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 10%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | 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.