Compare towns
Brownfield vs Cornish vs Dexter vs Denmark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Dexter has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Brownfield | Cornish | Dexter | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,830 |
1,803 |
3,822Highest |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8 11% below ME |
39±8.5Lowest 13% below ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
| Denmark and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3% ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Denmark and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,889±$5k 19% below ME |
$69,038±$4kHighest 8% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
| Cornish and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$274,200±$84k 8% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
| Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,196±$148 5% above ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,976Highest about the ME average |
$2,309 24% below ME |
$2,186Lowest 28% below ME |
$2,259 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Dexter 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — | MSAD 46 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Dexter Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.