Compare towns
Dexter vs Strong vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Dexter has the most renters (49.7% rent).
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 | Strong | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,249Lowest |
1,852 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
51.2±7.8Highest 14% above ME |
| Dexter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.6%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Strong 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% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.4%±4 ME: 22.4% |
| Strong 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter 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±$18k 31% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$53,654±$25kHighest 28% below ME |
| Dexter 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±$52k 42% below ME |
$183,900±$29kHighest 38% below ME |
$138,200±$50kLowest 53% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
$827±$117Lowest 27% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
$1,962 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.4%±23.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Dexter 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% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
22 minLowest 12% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong 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 | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | — |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
— | — |
| 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.