What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

Madawaska has the shortest commute (12 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dexter	Madawaska
People
Population	1,852Lowest	3,853Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.2±7.8Lowest 14% above ME	52.6±4.1Highest 17% above ME
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±6.6Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%	28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Dexter and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,654±$25kLowest 28% below ME	$56,818±$9kHighest 24% below ME
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$138,200±$50kLowest 53% below ME	$156,300±$15kHighest 47% below ME
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$827±$117Highest 27% below ME	$635±$148Lowest 44% below ME
	Dexter and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,962Highest 35% below ME	$1,923Lowest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±23.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	60%±31.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	13%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%	67.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME	1968Highest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 12% below ME	12 minLowest 53% below ME
Work from home	5.7%±5.4 ME: 15.9%	5.7%±3.3 ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 133 in ME	#83 of 133 in ME
School district	—	Madawaska Public Schools
High school in town	—	Madawaska Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.1
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.