Compare towns
Dexter vs Ogunquit vs Exeter vs Rumford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Ogunquit | Exeter | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
1,379 |
1,093Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
50.4±3.4Lowest 13% above ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Exeter 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
— | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
22.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | — | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | — | — | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | — | 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.