Compare towns
Dexter vs Madawaska vs Ogunquit vs Norway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
Madawaska has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Norway has the youngest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Ogunquit | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
3,853 |
1,379Lowest |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
52.6±4.1 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
49.5±4.9Lowest 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Madawaska and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Madawaska 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$215,800±$29k 27% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$635±$148Lowest 44% below ME |
— | $770±$66 32% below ME |
| Dexter and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186 28% below ME |
$1,923Lowest 37% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | #83 of 133 in ME | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | Madawaska Public Schools | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | Madawaska Middle/High School | — | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3 |
11.1Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.