What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).

Dixfield has the oldest population (median age 49.9).

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	Jay	Dixfield
People
Population	4,657Highest	2,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME	49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME
Kids under 18	17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1%	16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jay and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Dixfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	25.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Jay and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME	$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME
	Dixfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME	$160,900±$24kLowest 46% below ME
	Jay and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Highest 33% below ME	$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME
	Jay and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Lowest 26% below ME	$2,324Highest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4%
	Dixfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	14%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 13% below ME	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	5%±3.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Dixfield and Jay 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	#86 of 133 in ME	—
School district	RSU 73	RSU 56
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Dirigo High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	12.6Lowest
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.