Compare towns
Garland vs Mapleton vs Exeter vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Garland has the most expensive homes ($205k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Exeter has the most homeowners (93.1%).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Garland | Mapleton | Exeter | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 823Lowest |
1,884 |
1,093 |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Garland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,400±$38kHighest 31% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Garland and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$248 30% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Exeter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,536Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Mapleton 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.