Compare towns

Cornish vs Dexter vs Hiram

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Dexter has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Hiram has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureCornishDexterHiram
People
Population
1,803
3,822Highest
1,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.4%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.7%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
39±8.5Lowest
13% below ME
51±6.8Highest
14% above ME
41.6±10.2
7% below ME
Dexter and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
16.2%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Hiram and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.4%±4.9
ME: 22.4%
19.7%±4.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
15.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Dexter and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21%
ME: 36.2%
16.9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
25%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
3.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Dexter and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,038±$4kHighest
8% below ME
$51,845±$18kLowest
31% below ME
$62,813±$10k
16% below ME
Cornish and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,200±$84kHighest
8% below ME
$170,600±$52kLowest
42% below ME
$256,600±$42k
13% below ME
Cornish and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,196±$148Highest
5% above ME
$838±$119Lowest
26% below ME
$1,070±$161
6% below ME
Cornish and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,309Highest
24% below ME
$2,186
28% below ME
$2,106Lowest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±17.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
65.2%±20.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24.1
ME: 48.4%
Dexter and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
23.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
12.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
ME: 74.3%
66.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.8%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
1 yr older than ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
27% above ME
23 minLowest
7% below ME
31 minHighest
28% above ME
Work from home
8.5%±2.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
12.1%±8Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.6%±3.4
ME: 15.9%
Dexter and Hiram 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 — MSAD 46 RSU 55/MSAD 55
High school in town — Dexter Regional High School Sacopee Valley High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.3Highest
9.9Lowest
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.