Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter vs Norway
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 highest household income ($84k).
Norway 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 | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822 |
1,093Lowest |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
49.5±4.9Lowest 10% above 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% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Norway 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Norway and Exeter 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% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Exeter 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±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$215,800±$29kHighest 27% below ME |
| Norway and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$770±$66Lowest 32% 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 | $2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Norway 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% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norway 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 | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.