Compare towns
Appleton vs Dexter vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dexter has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Appleton | Dexter | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
3,822 |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Dexter and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Dexter 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 | Appleton Public Schools | MSAD 46 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dexter Regional High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.