Compare towns
Peru vs Appleton vs Union 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 affordable homes ($141k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Union | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,360Lowest |
2,663Highest |
2,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above 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%±4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Peru 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest 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±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Union 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±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dixfield 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None 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.