What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).

Washburn has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

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	Washburn
People
Population	3,822Highest	1,355Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6%	-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51±6.8Highest 14% above ME	48.2±7.7Lowest 8% above ME
	Dexter and Washburn 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%	21.7%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Washburn 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%	24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4%
	Washburn 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%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.6%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Washburn 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	$56,196±$6kHighest 25% below ME
	Washburn 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±$52kHighest 42% below ME	$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME
	Dexter and Washburn 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	$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,186Highest 28% below ME	$1,571Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±24.7Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Dexter and Washburn 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%	12.7%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	78.2%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 7% below ME	21 minLowest 15% below ME
Work from home	12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9%	9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Dexter and Washburn 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 45/MSAD 45
High school in town	Dexter Regional High School	Washburn District High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	12.0Lowest
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.