Compare towns
Oxford vs Prospect vs Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Prospect has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Paris has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Oxford | Prospect | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,333 |
923Lowest |
5,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
45.2±7.5 about the ME average |
48.2±5.6Highest 8% above ME |
| Paris and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.9 ME: 18.1% |
25.2%±10.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Prospect and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.8%±1.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Paris and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,571±$24kLowest 22% below ME |
$81,250±$17kHighest 9% above ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
| Prospect and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $194,200±$8kLowest 35% below ME |
$196,500±$19k 34% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
| Paris and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $977±$506Lowest 14% below ME |
$1,107±$61Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Prospect and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,979 35% below ME |
$2,649Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±23.2 ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±42Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% ME: 74.3% |
88.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1998Highest 21 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
6.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Oxford 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 | #127 of 133 in ME | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.