Compare towns
Ripley vs Freedom vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripley has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Freedom has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Dexter has the most people working from home (12.1%).
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 | Ripley | Freedom | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 436Lowest |
670 |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 6% above ME |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
| Dexter and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Freedom and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4% ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Ripley and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$13k 13% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Freedom and Ripley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $144,300±$33kLowest 51% below ME |
$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Freedom and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$281Highest 4% below ME |
— | $838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Ripley and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±73.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 28% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.5%±6.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Freedom 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 |
| High school 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.