Compare towns
Garland vs Union 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 oldest population (median age 53.5).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% 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 | Garland | Union | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 823Lowest |
2,663 |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.5±4.3Highest 19% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Garland and Dexter 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Garland and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Union and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,094±$12kLowest 32% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,400±$38k 31% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Union and Garland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$248Lowest 30% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.7%±46.1 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 7% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Union 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.