Compare towns
Dexter vs Milo 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).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
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 | Milo | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822 |
2,165Lowest |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
43.9±7Lowest about the ME average |
49.5±4.9 10% above ME |
| Dexter and Norway 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% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Norway and Milo 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% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Norway and Dexter 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% |
21.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway 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 |
$56,875±$9kHighest 24% below ME |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
| Milo and Norway 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 |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% 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 |
$879±$400Highest 23% below ME |
$770±$66Lowest 32% below ME |
| Milo 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 |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Milo 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% |
16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
70.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest 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 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
12.5Lowest |
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.