Compare towns
Rumford vs Hope vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Dexter has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Rumford | Hope | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,942Highest |
1,748Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
| Dexter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.1% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Rumford and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,988Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 14% below ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope 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 | #126 of 133 in ME | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 10 | Hope Public Schools | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Mountain Valley High School | None in town | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 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.