What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).

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	Jay
People
Population	2,300Lowest	4,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Jay and Dixfield 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%	19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dixfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%
	Jay and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME	$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME
	Dixfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,900±$24kLowest 46% below ME	$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME
	Jay and Dixfield 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	$759±$141Highest 33% below ME
	Jay 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	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Jay 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%	9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 13% below ME
Work from home	5%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dixfield and Jay 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	—	#86 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 56	RSU 73
High school in town	Dirigo High School	Spruce Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Lowest	12.7Highest
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.