Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Dexter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Dexter beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 487 in 1880, 1,004 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1864 and 4 maps from 1900 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dexter, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Dexter.
64% of Dexter households are owner-occupiers. Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 6% in value.
| Dexter | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $620 a month | $1,101 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 75% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Commuting out is the norm in Dexter: 4% of working residents work locally. In Dexter, 21% of residents live below the poverty line. The town’s average commute is 16 minutes, below both the New York town median (25 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Its median household income is $49,000.
| Dexter | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $49,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 10% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected losses in Dexter break down as 74% from inland flooding and 8% from cold waves. The town’s FEMA hazard score is 23 of 100, below both New York’s towns (31 of 100) and U.S. towns (44 of 100). Since 1979, Dexter has seen 2 flood insurance claims paid out.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Dexter's reported crime rate is well below New York's. No violent crimes were reported in 2025.
| Dexter | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
For adults in Dexter, the share who smoke cigarettes is 15%. Of 32 CDC measures, Dexter beats the New York average on 4 and trails it on 7. Nearly a fifth of adults in Dexter binge drink; 39% have obesity.
| Dexter | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 33% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| What stands out | Dexter | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.7% | 17.2% |
| More adults with obesity | 38.7% | 28.8% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Dexter Memorial Park | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Dexter
About 3 of every 100 Dexter residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
Where Dexter’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Village in New York, United States
Dexter is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, Dexter had a population of 1,004. The name is derived from Simon Newton Dexter, one of the village's stockholders. Dexter is in the southern part of the town of Brownville and is west of Watertown.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Dexter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.