Compare towns
Norway vs Dexter vs Limestone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norway has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.9%).
Dexter has the oldest population (median age 51).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
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 | Norway | Dexter | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,173 |
3,822Highest |
1,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±5 about the ME average |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
| Dexter and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.9% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $43,432±$4kLowest 42% below ME |
$51,845±$18kHighest 31% below ME |
$49,938±$8k 33% below ME |
| Dexter and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $162,000±$34k 45% below ME |
$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
| Dexter and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$86 33% below ME |
$838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
| Dexter and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,424 53% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 30.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.1% ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 53% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Limestone 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 | #79 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | MSAD 46 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | Dexter Regional High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.