What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumford has the oldest population (median age 52.3).

Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+28.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rumford	Mexico
People
Population	4,067Highest	2,142Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+28.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.3±3.8Highest 17% above ME	41.9±5.5Lowest 6% below ME
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%	22.8%±4.2Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	5.5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$29,230±$5kLowest 61% below ME	$50,972±$7kHighest 32% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,200±$19kHighest 58% below ME	$108,700±$11kLowest 63% below ME
	Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$785±$109Lowest 31% below ME	$972±$310Highest 15% below ME
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,827Lowest 40% below ME	$1,944Highest 36% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±11.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.5%±20Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	30%Highest ME: 10.7%	24.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	73.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 35 yrs older than ME	1955Highest 22 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	25 minHighest about the ME average
Work from home	3.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.5%±4.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mexico and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 133 in ME	#130 of 133 in ME
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.