Dexter Grist Mill · Photo: HalstynGuenther · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Dexter is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns
Dexter trails Maine on 21 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, from ZIP code 04930. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Dexter
COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Dexter
1 in 9 adults have COPD (11.6%), vs 8.4% across Maine. 1 in 10 adults have heart disease (10%), vs 7.6% across Maine. Stroke is also above the state: 4.7%, vs 3.6% across Maine. In all, Dexter runs above Maine on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓
More Dexter adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (31.1%), vs 23.1% across Maine. Habits ↓
Dexter is in the bottom 10% of U.S. towns for health
On the seven CDC estimates behind the Health Grade, Dexter is healthier than only 10% of U.S. towns. It earns a D on self-rated health, physical distress, mental distress and smoking. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Maine figure falls outside Dexter’s likely range; Dexter’s figures come from ZIP code 04930, which may reach past town lines; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
What’s behind Dexter’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dexter is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns, #139 of 143 in Maine. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 22% of U.S. towns); physical distress pulls it down (better than 5%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Dexter’s median household income is $51,845; among the 6,407 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($39K–$65K), it’s healthier than 22%, so it sits below most towns with similar incomes, too.
Out of every 100 Dexter adults…
Dexter runs above ME on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with Maine
Share of adults, with the Maine figure marked.
7.6 miles of trails across 6 parks and preserves
Care in and near Dexter
1 community health center in Dexter, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Dexter; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Dexter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Maine.
How Dexter adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Dexter runs above Maine.
1 in 3 Dexter adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
20.7% of Dexter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.3% across Maine.
Dexter and the towns around it
Dexter’s Health Grade ranks 3rd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter | D | 39.9% | 14.4% | 19% | ZIP 04930 |
| Corinna | D | 40% | 13.5% | 19.4% | ZIP 04928 |
| Garland | D | 39.9% | 14% | 18.7% | ZIP 04939 |
| Ripley | — | — | — | — | |
| Sangerville | D | 37.6% | 15.6% | 22% | ZIP 04479 |
| Dexter | — | — | — | — |
Ripley: fewer than 1,000 residents. Dexter: a Census-designated place inside a larger town, graded as part of it. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Dexter adults live with a disability (Maine 32.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Dexter
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Dexter is better than Maine on 0 and worse on 21; on the rest, the Maine figure falls inside Dexter’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Dexter | ME | U.S. | vs ME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 25.4%22.8–28.1 | 18.7% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 18.4%16.6–20.2 | 14.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 20%18–21.9 | 17.7% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 39.9%36–43.8 | 32.7% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 14.4%12.9–15.9 | 11.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 42.5%40–45.1 | 35.7% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 41%38.3–43.6 | 37.4% | 37.1% | Worse |
| Arthritis | 36.9%34.6–39.2 | 32% | 25.3% | Worse |
| Asthma | 13.8%12.5–15.1 | 12.6% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 10.7%9.9–11.6 | 9.9% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 10%9–11 | 7.6% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 11.6%10.3–13 | 8.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 3.6% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 18.1%15.6–21 | 14.8% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 19%16.6–21.6 | 14.4% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 31.1%27.8–34.7 | 23.1% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 14%12.2–15.8 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 37%33.6–40.7 | 32.8% | 36% | Worse |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.8%8.1–11.7 | 7.8% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 83%80.9–84.9 | 81.2% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 53.2%50.4–56.1 | 63.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 86.1%84.4–87.6 | 87.1% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.5%75.3–79.6 | 76.4% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 68.3%65–71.4 | 70.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 78%73.5–82.1 | 80.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.8%26.2–31.5 | 26.9% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35%32–38.1 | 32% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 24.7%22.2–27.4 | 22.7% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.5%12.7–16.7 | 10.7% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.5%10.2–13.2 | 9.8% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 9.2%8.1–10.4 | 7.4% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10.1%9–11.4 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 20.7%18.2–23.6 | 14.3% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 39.7%36.4–43.1 | 32.1% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 19.6%17.6–21.7 | 14% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.6%16.6–20.6 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.7%9.7–11.7 | 8.4% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 6.1%5.5–6.8 | 4.4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10.5%9.4–11.7 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 4.9%4.3–5.5 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Maine figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Dexter
Is Dexter a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Dexter is healthier than 10% of U.S. towns: D for health, #139 of 143 in Maine. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 22%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Dexter?
CDC estimates 39.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 36% and 43.8%, against 32.7% across Maine and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Dexter?
Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover Foxcroft, 10.3 miles in a straight line from Dexter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Dexter have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.8% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 8.1–11.7%), against 7.8% across Maine.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Dexter more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D− to C.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Dexter.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Maine figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.