Compare towns
Peru vs Danforth 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%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Danforth | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
666Lowest |
1,738Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+23%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
43±12Lowest 4% below ME |
| Danforth 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% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.3%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Dixfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest 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±$19k 11% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% 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 |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% 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±$16Highest 37% below ME |
$629±$29 45% below ME |
$534±$217Lowest 53% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,400Highest 21% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
37.5%±20.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Danforth 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
14.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
28 min 15% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Danforth 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.