What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+28.2%).

Rumford has the oldest population (median age 52.3).

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	Mexico	Rumford
People
Population	2,142Lowest	4,067Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+28.2%Highest ME: +2.6%	+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.9±5.5Lowest 6% below ME	52.3±3.8Highest 17% above ME
Kids under 18	22.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%	31.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	14.5%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	4.1%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,972±$7kHighest 32% below ME	$29,230±$5kLowest 61% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$108,700±$11kLowest 63% below ME	$123,200±$19kHighest 58% below ME
	Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$972±$310Highest 15% below ME	$785±$109Lowest 31% below ME
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,944Highest 36% below ME	$1,827Lowest 40% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.5%±20Highest ME: 48.4%	62.8%±11.8Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	24.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%	30%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	56.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 22 yrs older than ME	1942Lowest 35 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	6.5%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%	3.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Mexico and Rumford 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	#130 of 133 in ME	#126 of 133 in ME
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.