Compare towns
Dexter vs Mapleton vs Strong vs Rumford
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 oldest population (median age 51).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Rumford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
| Dexter and Rumford 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%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Strong 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
18.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$52k 42% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Mapleton and Strong 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$803±$81 29% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Rumford 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
22.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | — | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.