Compare towns
Peru vs Dixfield vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Dixfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bradford has the highest household income ($83k).
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 | Dixfield | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
2,300Highest |
1,254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.7±8 11% above ME |
| Dixfield and Bradford 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% |
16.9%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Bradford 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% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Bradford 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% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
$82,955±$26kHighest 11% above ME |
| Bradford 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 |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
$176,200±$15kHighest 41% below ME |
| Bradford 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 |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
$742±$392Highest 35% below ME |
| Bradford and Peru 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 |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
$2,315 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3 ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Dixfield 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% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 56 | RSU 56 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.