Compare towns
Porter vs Dexter vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Dexter has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hiram has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Porter | Dexter | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,746Lowest |
3,822Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
41.6±10.2 7% below ME |
| Dexter and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Porter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Porter and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,417±$9k 19% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$62,813±$10kHighest 16% below ME |
| Hiram and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
$256,600±$42kHighest 13% below ME |
| Hiram and Porter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
| Hiram and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,841Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$2,106 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±8.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 30% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Porter 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 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | Dexter Regional High School | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.