Compare towns

Dexter vs Sumner 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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dexter has the most expensive homes ($171k 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.

MeasureDexterSumnerDexter
People
Population
1,852
845Lowest
3,822Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+5.9%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-2.4%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
51.2±7.8
14% above ME
56.1±8.4Highest
25% above ME
51±6.8Lowest
14% above ME
Sumner 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%
17.2%±6.9
ME: 18.1%
16.2%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Dexter and Sumner 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%
29.7%±5.2Highest
ME: 22.4%
19.7%±4.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.1%Highest
ME: 36.2%
15.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
16.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.2%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
Dexter 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
$57,750±$19kHighest
23% below ME
$51,845±$18kLowest
31% below ME
Sumner 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
$150,000±$73k
49% below ME
$170,600±$52kHighest
42% below ME
Dexter and Sumner 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
—
$838±$119Highest
26% below ME
Dexter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,962Lowest
35% below ME
$2,167
29% below ME
$2,186Highest
28% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.4%±23.7Lowest
ME: 48.4%
100%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
65.2%±20.6
ME: 48.4%
Sumner 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%
5.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
23.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
91.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
66.3%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
1977Highest
same as ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
12% below ME
42 minHighest
72% above ME
23 min
7% below ME
Work from home
5.7%±5.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
18.5%±8Highest
ME: 15.9%
12.1%±8
ME: 15.9%
Sumner 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 — #113 of 133 in ME
School district — RSU 10 MSAD 46
High school in town — None 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.