Compare towns

Mexico vs Perham 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 the youngest population (median age 43.4).
Perham has the most people working from home (8.4%).
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.

MeasureMexicoPerhamRumford
People
Population
2,782
326Lowest
5,942Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
ME: +2.6%
—
+0.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.4±2.8Lowest
3% below ME
53±12.9Highest
18% above ME
50.4±3.4
13% above ME
Perham 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%
19.6%±8.5
ME: 18.1%
18.1%±4.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Mexico and Perham 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%
24.5%±2.3
ME: 22.4%
27.2%±4.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
Rumford and Perham 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%
18.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
18.1%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±2.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.9Lowest
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
$62,500±$22kHighest
16% below ME
$38,403±$6kLowest
49% below ME
Perham and Mexico 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
$117,600±$9k
60% below ME
$127,700±$21kHighest
57% below ME
Rumford and Perham 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
—
$803±$81Lowest
29% 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
$1,961
35% below ME
$1,641Lowest
46% below ME
$1,988Highest
35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.8%±17.8Highest
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±100Lowest
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%
2.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
22.6%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77%
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
63.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
19 yrs older than ME
1976Highest
1 yr older than ME
1947Lowest
30 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the ME average
25 minHighest
about the ME average
21 minLowest
14% below ME
Work from home
5.6%±3.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
8.4%±7.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
6.6%±5.8
ME: 15.9%
Perham 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.