Compare towns
Mexico vs Exeter vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Rumford has the most renters (36.9% rent).
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 | Exeter | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782 |
1,093Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
| Exeter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4 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+ | 20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Exeter 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 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 | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$127,700±$21k 57% below ME |
| Exeter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Mexico and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,988Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 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 | 19.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 19 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter 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 |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.