Compare towns
Dexter vs Exeter 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 expensive homes ($171k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Dexter has the most renters (49.7% rent).
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 | Sumner | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,093 |
845Lowest |
1,852 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51.2±7.8 14% above ME |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±6.6Highest 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+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Dexter 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$53,654±$25k 28% below ME |
| Exeter and Sumner 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 |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$138,200±$50kLowest 53% below ME |
| Dexter and Exeter 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 |
— | $827±$117Lowest 27% 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
59.4%±23.7 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 | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
91.1% ME: 74.3% |
50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±5.4Lowest 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 | MSAD 46 | — | RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | 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.