Compare towns
Dixfield vs Sumner vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dixfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23%).
Sumner has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Hiram has the most expensive homes ($257k 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 | Dixfield | Sumner | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,738 |
845Lowest |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43±12 4% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Sumner and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±5.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Dixfield and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,608±$16kHighest 6% below ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
| Dixfield and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,500±$68k 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$256,600±$42kHighest 13% below ME |
| Hiram and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
— | $1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,400Highest 21% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.5%±20.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.