Compare towns

Dexter vs Exeter vs Dexter

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 (49.7% rent).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).

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.

MeasureDexterExeterDexter
People
Population
1,852
1,093Lowest
3,822Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
ME: +2.6%
-11.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-2.4%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
51.2±7.8
14% above ME
52.6±7.7Highest
17% above ME
51±6.8Lowest
14% above ME
Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±6.6Highest
ME: 18.1%
9%±3.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
16.2%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
Dexter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4
ME: 22.4%
23.9%±11.4Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.7%±4.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
15%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
16.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.4%±2.1Highest
ME: 5.8%
3.2%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,654±$25k
28% below ME
$84,408±$12kHighest
13% above ME
$51,845±$18kLowest
31% below ME
Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$138,200±$50kLowest
53% below ME
$166,700±$39k
44% below ME
$170,600±$52kHighest
42% below ME
Dexter and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$827±$117Lowest
27% below ME
$995±$386Highest
13% below ME
$838±$119
26% below ME
Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,962
35% below ME
$1,602Lowest
47% below ME
$2,186Highest
28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±23.7
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±73.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
65.2%±20.6Highest
ME: 48.4%
Dexter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.7%
ME: 10.7%
8.1%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
23.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
93.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
66.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
12% below ME
35 minHighest
43% above ME
23 min
7% below ME
Work from home
5.7%±5.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.3%±5.7
ME: 15.9%
12.1%±8Highest
ME: 15.9%
Dexter and Exeter 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 — #113 of 133 in ME
School district — — MSAD 46
High school in town — — Dexter Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.3
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.