Compare towns
Dixfield vs Jay 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 oldest population (median age 49.9).
Jay has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).
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 | Jay | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,300 |
4,657Highest |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru 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% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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±$9kHighest 6% below ME |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% 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±$24k 46% below ME |
$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% 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 |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Jay 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 |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Dixfield 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 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.