Compare towns
Dexter vs Norway vs Ogunquit vs Ripley
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).
Norway has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has the most expensive homes ($876k median).
Ripley has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
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 | Norway | Ogunquit | Ripley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
5,228Highest |
1,379 |
436Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
49.5±4.9 10% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
47.7±5.3Lowest 6% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Norway and Ripley 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% |
27.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
19.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±6 ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Ogunquit 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 |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$64,821±$13k 13% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Ripley 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 |
$215,800±$29k 27% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$144,300±$33kLowest 51% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$770±$66Lowest 32% below ME |
— | $1,091±$281Highest 4% below ME |
| Ripley and Dexter 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 |
$2,057 32% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
11.5%±73.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Norway 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% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70.5% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | #79 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | MSAD 46 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 | — | — |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.