Compare towns
Van Buren vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Van Buren has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Dexter has the most expensive homes ($171k median).
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 | Van Buren | Dexter |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 1,858Lowest |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.2Highest 25% above ME |
51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
| Van Buren and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 35.3%±7.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Van Buren and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $40,170±$4kLowest 46% below ME |
$51,845±$18kHighest 31% below ME |
| Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $97,700±$24kLowest 67% below ME |
$170,600±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
| Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $733±$141Lowest 36% below ME |
$838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
| Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,415Lowest 53% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.7%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 23%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 40% below ME |
23 minHighest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Van Buren 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 | RSU 88/MSAD 24 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Van Buren District Secondary Sch | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.