What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the most expensive homes ($161k median).

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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	Mexico
People
Population	2,300Lowest	2,782Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	43.4±2.8Lowest 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%	19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mexico 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%	20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dixfield and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Highest ME: 36.2%	13%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mexico 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	$55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME
	Dixfield and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,900±$24kHighest 46% below ME	$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME	$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME
	Mexico 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	$1,961Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	19.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	77%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 8 yrs older than ME	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	24 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	5.6%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mexico 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	—	#130 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 56	Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10
High school in town	Dirigo High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
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.