Compare towns
Dixfield vs Exeter vs Lee vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Exeter | Lee | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300Highest |
1,093 |
925Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
51.5±11.5 15% above ME |
48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
21.8%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$49,886±$5kLowest 33% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Exeter 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±$24k 46% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$174,500±$25kHighest 41% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $723±$16 37% below ME |
| Exeter and Peru 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,547Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Lee and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
97%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.9%±4.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | — | RSU 30/MSAD 30 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | — | None in town | 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.