Compare towns
Rumford vs Ogunquit vs Dexter vs Bethel
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bethel has the youngest population (median age 50.2).
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 | Ogunquit | Dexter | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,942Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,822 |
2,617 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
50.2±6.4Lowest 12% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.3%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.1% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$58,929±$23k 21% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$344,900±$37k 16% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
— | $838±$119 26% below ME |
$864±$43Highest 24% below ME |
| Bethel and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,988Lowest 35% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$2,835 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.3%±15.4 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 14% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
26 min 5% above ME |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
27.7%±8.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Bethel 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 | #49 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 10 | — | MSAD 46 | RSU 44/MSAD 44 |
| High school in town | Mountain Valley High School | — | Dexter Regional High School | Telstar High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 13.3Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.