Compare towns
Dexter vs Porter
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).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Porter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,746Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
| Dexter and Porter 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%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Porter 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% |
20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Porter 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Porter 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 |
$60,417±$9kHighest 19% below ME |
| Porter 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 |
$226,100±$20kHighest 24% below ME |
| Porter 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Porter 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% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
32 minHighest 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter 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 | — |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — |
| 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.