Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter vs Harmony vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Harmony has the most people working from home (14.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($125k median).
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 | Dexter | Exeter | Harmony | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,852Highest |
1,093 |
974Lowest |
1,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±7.8Lowest 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
52.9±2.5 18% above ME |
53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME |
| Ashland and Harmony 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% |
16.4%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Exeter 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.1% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Exeter 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 |
$54,063±$13k 28% below ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,200±$50k 53% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$202,700±$58kHighest 32% below ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
| Harmony 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 |
— | — |
| Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,962Highest 35% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,449Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±23.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
43.5%±100 ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Harmony 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% |
15.8% ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
66.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1973 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 12% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.8%±8.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Harmony 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Harmony Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.