Compare towns
Dexter vs Canton
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.6%).
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 | Canton |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,191Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+13.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.4±7.2Lowest 8% below ME |
| Dexter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±4.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Canton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Canton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$52,458±$35kHighest 30% below ME |
| Canton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$165,000±$50kLowest 44% below ME |
| Dexter and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$485±$18Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186Lowest 28% below ME |
$2,277Highest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
88.9%±33.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Canton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 42% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.1%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Canton 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 | 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 |
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.