What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dexter has the most affordable homes ($171k median).

Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dexter	Milbridge
People
Population	3,822Highest	1,222Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51±6.8Highest 14% above ME	50.3±6.2Lowest 12% above ME
	Dexter and Milbridge 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%	22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1%
	Milbridge 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%	30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8%	1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dexter and Milbridge 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	$60,536±$16kHighest 19% below ME
	Milbridge 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±$52kLowest 42% below ME	$240,400±$31kHighest 19% below ME
	Milbridge and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$838±$119Highest 26% below ME	$619±$186Lowest 46% below ME
	Dexter and Milbridge 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	$2,022Lowest 33% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4%	45.8%±22.6Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dexter and Milbridge 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%	18.4%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	18 minLowest 26% below ME
Work from home	12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Milbridge 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 37/MSAD 37
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

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.