What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).

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	Somerville
People
Population	2,300Highest	837Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+9.5%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,613±$9kLowest 6% below ME	$71,250±$15kHighest 5% below ME
	Somerville 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±$24kLowest 46% below ME	$218,100±$41kHighest 26% below ME
	Somerville and Dixfield 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	$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,324Lowest 23% below ME	$2,505Highest 17% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Somerville 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%	17%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.8%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	27 minHighest 9% above ME
Work from home	5%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%	3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dixfield and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 56	RSU 12
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.