Compare towns
Danforth vs Dixfield vs Peru vs Sangerville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
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).
Peru has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Sangerville has the most people working from home (13.7%).
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 | Danforth | Dixfield | Peru | Sangerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666Lowest |
2,300Highest |
1,501 |
1,136 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4 19% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
53.9±6.9Highest 20% above ME |
| Sangerville and Danforth 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.1%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Dixfield 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% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Sangerville 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% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
12.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sangerville and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$50,313±$14k 33% below ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME |
$141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$124,000±$40k 58% below ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$658±$287 42% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
$850±$136Highest 25% below ME |
| Sangerville and Peru 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 |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,349 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.6%±27.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Sangerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.9% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
20 minLowest 18% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
13.7%±6.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sangerville and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 56 | RSU 56 | — |
| High school in town | — | Dirigo High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.