Compare towns
Dexter vs Rumford
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 most people working from home (12.1%).
Rumford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Rumford |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,822Lowest |
4,067Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
52.3±3.8Highest 17% above ME |
| Rumford and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Rumford 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% |
31.1%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Rumford 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±$18kHighest 31% below ME |
$29,230±$5kLowest 61% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$123,200±$19kLowest 58% below ME |
| Dexter and Rumford 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 |
$785±$109Lowest 31% below ME |
| Dexter and Rumford 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 |
$1,827Lowest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±11.8Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
30%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
56.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1942Lowest 35 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.1%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Rumford 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 | #126 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.