What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dexter has the most expensive homes ($171k median).

Van Buren has the most affordable homes ($98k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dexter	Van Buren
People
Population	3,822Highest	1,858Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME	56±3.2Highest 25% above ME
	Van Buren 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%	15.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Dexter and Van Buren 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%	35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.9%Highest ME: 36.2%	10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Van Buren 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	$40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME
	Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME	$97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME
	Dexter and Van Buren 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	$733±$141Lowest 36% below ME
	Dexter and Van Buren 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	$1,415Lowest 53% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4%	40.7%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dexter and Van Buren 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%	23%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	15 minLowest 40% below ME
Work from home	12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dexter and Van Buren 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	RSU 88/MSAD 24
High school in town	Dexter Regional High School	Van Buren District Secondary Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	7.3Lowest
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.