Compare towns
Dexter vs Madawaska vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Madawaska has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Dexter | Madawaska | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822 |
3,853Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
52.6±4.1Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
| Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$635±$148 44% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 | $2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,923 37% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Mapleton 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 | #83 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | MSAD 46 | Madawaska Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Madawaska Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.