Compare towns
Dixfield vs Mapleton vs Peru vs Albion
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Albion has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Peru | Albion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300Highest |
1,884 |
1,501Lowest |
2,204 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
| Albion 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Peru 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Albion and Peru 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
| Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$287 42% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$723±$16Highest 37% below ME |
— |
| Peru 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Albion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Albion and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 56 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | None in town | 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.