What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mexico	Rumford
People
Population	2,782Lowest	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	50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±4.4Lowest 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%	27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Rumford 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%	18.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.3Lowest 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±$9kHighest 25% below ME	$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME	$127,700±$21kHighest 57% below ME
	Rumford and Mexico 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	$1,961Lowest 35% below ME	$1,988Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4%	59.1%±11.9Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7%	22.6%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Highest ME: 74.3%	63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 19 yrs older than ME	1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	5.6%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Rumford 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	#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

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.