Compare towns
Dexter vs Limestone 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%).
Limestone has the most people working from home (14.5%).
Ashland has the most homeowners (66.1%).
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 | Limestone | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,852Highest |
1,579 |
1,080Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±7.8 14% above ME |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME |
| Ashland 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% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Dexter 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% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Limestone 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% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,654±$25kHighest 28% below ME |
$49,938±$8k 33% below ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Dexter and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,200±$50kHighest 53% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$125,000±$49k 58% below ME |
| Dexter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $827±$117Highest 27% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
— |
| Dexter and Limestone 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 |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,511 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±23.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Limestone 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% |
16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 11 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minHighest 12% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone 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 | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.