Compare towns
Dexter vs Norway vs Ogunquit vs Madawaska
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norway has the youngest population (median age 45.6).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.
| Measure | Dexter | Norway | Ogunquit | Madawaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
3,173 |
1,379Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-1.9% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
45.6±5Lowest about the ME average |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.6±4.1 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8Highest 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% |
21.3%±5.1 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5 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% |
19.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±3.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$43,432±$4kLowest 42% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$56,818±$9k 24% 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 |
$162,000±$34k 45% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
$759±$86 33% below ME |
— | $635±$148Lowest 44% 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 |
$1,424Lowest 53% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,923 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±24.4 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2 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% ME: 10.7% |
30.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
59.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1968 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
7.4%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | #79 of 133 in ME | — | #83 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | — | — | Madawaska Public Schools |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | — | Madawaska Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.