What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danforth has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).

Dixfield has the most expensive 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	Danforth	Dixfield
People
Population	666Lowest	2,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME	49.9±4.4Lowest 11% above ME
	Danforth and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Danforth and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME	$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME	$658±$287Highest 42% below ME
	Dixfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME	$2,324Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 15% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5.8%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Danforth 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.