Compare towns
Mexico vs Phillips 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%).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
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 | Phillips | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782 |
1,094Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Rumford and Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Phillips 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% |
20.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9kHighest 25% below ME |
$45,385±$12k 39% below ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Mexico and Phillips 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$127,700±$21k 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$803±$81 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 | $1,961Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Lowest 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% |
17.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 19 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the ME average |
23 min 8% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None 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.