What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the most kids (16.9% under 18).

Carthage has the most people working from home (10%).

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	Dixfield	Carthage
People
Population	2,300Highest	845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-9.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	42.8±10.9Lowest 4% below ME
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1%	13.1%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	10.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	2%±1.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,613±$9kLowest 6% below ME	$79,107±$18kHighest 6% above ME
	Carthage and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME	$144,300±$41kLowest 51% below ME
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME	$811±$262Highest 29% 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	$2,324Highest 23% below ME	$1,239Lowest 59% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±88Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14%Highest ME: 10.7%	3.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	88.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	10%±7.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Carthage 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.