Compare towns
Dixfield vs Hope vs Norridgewock
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Norridgewock has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Hope | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,300 |
1,748Lowest |
3,288Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
50.3±11Highest 12% above ME |
| Norridgewock and Dixfield 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Dixfield 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Norridgewock and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.6% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dixfield and Hope 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,063±$588 7% below ME |
| Hope and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,324 23% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| 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 |
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.