What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dixfield	Peru
People
Population	2,300Highest	1,501Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	48±7.6Lowest 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%	20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±4.5Lowest 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Peru 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	$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME
	Dixfield and Peru 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	$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME
	Dixfield and Peru 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	$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	$1,799Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%	21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Peru 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%	9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	29 minHighest 18% above ME
Work from home	5%±3.2Lowest 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
School district	RSU 56	RSU 56
High school in town	Dirigo High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.