Compare towns
Peru vs Unity 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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dixfield has the highest household income ($71k).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Dixfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
1,858 |
2,300Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48±7.6 7% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
49.9±4.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Dixfield 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% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Peru and Dixfield 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% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
25.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$70,613±$9kHighest 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±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$160,900±$24k 46% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$873±$73Highest 23% below ME |
$658±$287Lowest 42% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,324 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
48%±20.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dixfield and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
14% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
5%±3.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Dirigo High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.