Compare towns
Dexter vs Wayne
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 affordable homes ($171k median).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 3,822Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Wayne 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186Lowest 28% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | RSU 38 |
| 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 |
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.