Compare towns
Starks vs Dexter vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Bridgewater has the most kids (17.1% 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 | Starks | Dexter | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556 |
3,822Highest |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
48.8±8 9% above ME |
| Dexter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$154,900±$78k 48% below ME |
| Dexter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
$768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
| Starks and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Bridgewater 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.