Compare towns
Lincoln vs Perry vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Lincoln | Perry | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,890Highest |
744Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.4±3.4Highest 17% above ME |
45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Lincoln and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.1%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lincoln and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% ME: 36.2% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,089±$15k 25% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
$196,400±$13kHighest 34% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Perry and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $658±$28Lowest 42% below ME |
— | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,860Lowest 39% below ME |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±34.1 ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5% ME: 10.7% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
26 minHighest 6% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry 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 | #94 of 133 in ME | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | Perry Public Schools | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Mattanawcook Academy | None in town | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| 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.