Compare towns
Dexter vs Mapleton vs Starks 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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
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 | Mapleton | Starks | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,884 |
556Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
| Dexter and Starks 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Starks 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Starks 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Starks 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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.