Compare towns
Dixfield vs Thorndike 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
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 | Thorndike | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,300Highest |
1,403Lowest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.6% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% 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%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest 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% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest 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±$9k 6% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below 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±$24k 46% below ME |
$205,600±$88kHighest 31% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% 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 |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Thorndike and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,324 23% below ME |
$2,537Highest 16% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1984Highest 7 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | Dirigo High School | Mt View High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.