What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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	Thorndike
People
Population	2,300Highest	1,403Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.6%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME	19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME
Kids under 18	16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1%
Age 65+	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%	11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Dixfield and Thorndike 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%	25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dixfield and Thorndike 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	$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME
	Thorndike 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	$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME
	Thorndike 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	$836±$317Highest 27% below ME
	Thorndike and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,324Lowest 23% below ME	$2,537Highest 16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%	36%±62.5Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Thorndike 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%	6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%	87.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME	1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	36 minHighest 46% above ME
Work from home	5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district	RSU 56	RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town	Dirigo High School	Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	11.7Lowest
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.