Compare towns
Mexico vs Benton vs Dixfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Benton has the most people working from home (6.7%).
Dixfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23%).
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 | Mexico | Benton | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782Highest |
2,770 |
1,738Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
-0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Highest 3% below ME |
42.8±6Lowest 4% below ME |
43±12 4% below ME |
| Mexico and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±3.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dixfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.2% ME: 36.2% |
28.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9kLowest 25% below ME |
$61,437±$5k 18% below ME |
$70,608±$16kHighest 6% below ME |
| Dixfield and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$176,700±$23kHighest 40% below ME |
$171,500±$68k 42% below ME |
| Benton and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$1,110±$123Highest about the ME average |
$534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961 35% below ME |
$1,758Lowest 42% below ME |
$2,400Highest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±22.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Benton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the ME average |
20 minLowest 21% below ME |
22 min 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±4.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Benton and Mexico 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 | #85 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.