Compare towns
Peru vs Appleton vs Dixfield vs Canton
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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Appleton | Dixfield | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,360 |
2,300Highest |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
| Dixfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
23.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$70,613±$9kHighest 6% below ME |
$52,458±$35kLowest 30% below ME |
| Dixfield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$165,000±$50k 44% below ME |
| Appleton and Canton 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 |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$658±$287 42% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
$2,277 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Appleton 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1975 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 56 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 56 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dirigo High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.