Compare towns
Peru vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Exeter | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501 |
1,093Lowest |
2,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6Lowest 7% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
49.9±4.4 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Dixfield 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±3.9 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%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Peru and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$70,613±$9k 6% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kHighest 44% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Exeter and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799 41% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,324Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 18% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Peru 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.