Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter vs Mapleton vs Union
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).
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,093Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% 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 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186 28% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.