Compare towns
Anson vs Dexter vs Mapleton vs Mexico
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Anson | Dexter | Mapleton | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
3,822Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.4±2.8 3% below ME |
| Dexter and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mexico and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
| Mexico and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Mapleton 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 | — | #113 of 133 in ME | — | #130 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.