Compare towns
Dixfield vs Mapleton vs Union vs Mexico
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k 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 | Mapleton | Union | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300 |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
2,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
| Dixfield and Mexico 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Union 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Mapleton 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$287 42% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,027±$275 10% below ME |
| Union and Mexico 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| 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.