Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter vs Stetson
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).
Stetson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Stetson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,852Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±7.8 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
42.2±5.1Lowest 6% below 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%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Stetson 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% |
14.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
19.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,654±$25kLowest 28% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$76,023±$28k about the ME average |
| Exeter and Stetson 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 |
$205,700±$34kHighest 31% below ME |
| Stetson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $827±$117 27% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$800±$377Lowest 30% 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,962Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±23.7 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.7%±42Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Stetson and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 12% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
11%±5.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Stetson 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 | — | — |
| 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.