Compare towns
Carthage vs Mexico 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 highest household income ($79k).
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Stetson has the most expensive homes ($206k 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.
| Measure | Carthage | Mexico | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 845Lowest |
2,782Highest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±10.9 4% below ME |
43.4±2.8Highest 3% below ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below ME |
| Mexico 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% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson and Mexico 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% |
20.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
14.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Mexico 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% ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Stetson 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 |
$55,727±$9kLowest 25% 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±$41k 51% below ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $811±$262 29% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% below ME |
| Mexico and Carthage 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 |
$1,961 35% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Mexico 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% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 10%±7.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #130 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.