Compare towns
Peru vs Anson vs Dixfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most people working from home (9.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Dixfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23%).
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 | Peru | Anson | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
680Lowest |
1,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below ME |
| Peru and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$70,608±$16k 6% below ME |
| Anson and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38k 52% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$171,500±$68kHighest 42% below ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $723±$16 37% below ME |
$914±$247Highest 20% below ME |
$534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Anson and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,400Highest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | — | — |
| High school 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.