Compare towns
Dexter vs Ogunquit vs Lincoln vs Madawaska
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 youngest population (median age 51).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Lincoln | Madawaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
1,379Lowest |
4,890Highest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
52.4±3.4 17% above ME |
52.6±4.1 17% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.4%±4.4 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+ | 19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
32.1%±7.4 ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Lincoln 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.2% ME: 36.2% |
22.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$56,089±$15k 25% below 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$141,500±$40kLowest 52% below ME |
$156,300±$15k 47% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
— | $658±$28 42% below ME |
$635±$148Lowest 44% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,186 28% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,860Lowest 39% below ME |
$1,923 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.3%±34.1 ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Lincoln 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.5% ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.6% ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 133 in ME | — | #94 of 133 in ME | #83 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | — | Lincoln-Region 3 · RSU 67 | Madawaska Public Schools |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | Mattanawcook Academy | Madawaska Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | 11.8 |
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.