Compare towns
Mexico vs Gray 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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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.
| Measure | Mexico | Gray | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782 |
8,429Highest |
2,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Dixfield and Mexico 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% |
19%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mexico and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Dixfield 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
44.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Gray 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 |
$95,236±$8kHighest 27% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$363,700±$20kHighest 23% above ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$1,371±$89Highest 20% above ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Gray and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,683Highest 21% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the ME average |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.