Compare towns
Peru vs Appleton vs Mexico 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 homeowners (90.2%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Mexico has the most affordable homes ($111k 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 | Appleton | Mexico | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,360Lowest |
2,782Highest |
1,738 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8% ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below ME |
| Appleton and Peru 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% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Mexico 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%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Appleton 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$70,608±$16kHighest 6% 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±$38k 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$171,500±$68k 42% below ME |
| Appleton and Dixfield 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 |
$1,027±$275 10% below ME |
$534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Appleton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
$2,400 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
77%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1960 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Peru 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 56 | Appleton Public Schools | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.