Compare towns
Dexter vs Ogunquit vs Madison 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Norway has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | Madison | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,822 |
1,379Lowest |
2,676 |
5,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8 14% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
49.5±4.9 10% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Norway 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% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Norway and Madison 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 |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$54,342±$17k 27% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$215,800±$29k 27% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119 26% below ME |
— | $850±$218Highest 25% below ME |
$770±$66Lowest 32% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Norway 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% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Madison 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 | — | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | — | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | — | — | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Lowest |
— | — | 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.