What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Rumford has the most people working from home (6.6%).

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	Rumford
People
Population	4,067Lowest	5,942Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	+0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	52.3±3.8Highest 17% above ME	50.4±3.4Lowest 13% above ME
	Rumford and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Rumford 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%	27.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Rumford and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2%	18.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8%	3.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Rumford 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	$38,403±$6kHighest 49% below ME
	Rumford and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$123,200±$19kLowest 58% below ME	$127,700±$21kHighest 57% below ME
	Rumford and Rumford 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	$803±$81Highest 29% below ME
	Rumford 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	$1,988Highest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.8%±11.8Highest ME: 48.4%	59.1%±11.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Rumford 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%	22.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	63.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 35 yrs older than ME	1947Highest 30 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest about the ME average	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	3.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.6%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Rumford 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	#126 of 133 in ME
School district	—	RSU 10
High school in town	—	Mountain Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
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.