Compare towns
Dixfield vs Mapleton vs Unity 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,300Highest |
1,884 |
1,858 |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$66,827±$19k 11% 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,324 23% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.