Compare towns
Dexter vs Madison vs Starks
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Madison | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822 |
4,782Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% 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 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Dexter 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Starks 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% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks and Madison 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 |
$187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Madison 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 |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Starks 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | MSAD 46 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — |
| High school 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 Our Story | 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.