Compare towns
Rumford vs Mexico 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+28.2%).
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 | Rumford | Mexico | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,942Highest |
2,142Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+28.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
41.9±5.5Lowest 6% below ME |
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% |
22.8%±5.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mexico 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% |
22.8%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Rumford 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 |
$50,972±$7k 32% below ME |
$51,845±$18kHighest 31% below ME |
| Dexter and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $127,700±$21k 57% below ME |
$108,700±$11kLowest 63% below ME |
$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
| Dexter and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
$972±$310Highest 15% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Mexico and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,988 35% below ME |
$1,944Lowest 36% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.1%±11.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.5%±20Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
24.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
73.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
1955 22 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±4.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Rumford 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 10 | — | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Mountain Valley High School | — | 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.