Compare towns
Dexter vs Sumner 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 most expensive homes ($171k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Sumner | Madawaska |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,822 |
845Lowest |
3,853Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 51±6.8Lowest 14% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
52.6±4.1 17% above ME |
| Sumner and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Madawaska and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Dexter and Madawaska 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 |
$57,750±$19kHighest 23% below ME |
$56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
| Sumner 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±$52kHighest 42% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$156,300±$15k 47% below ME |
| Dexter and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$119Highest 26% below ME |
— | $635±$148Lowest 44% below ME |
| Dexter and Madawaska 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,923Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dexter 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 1 yr older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 7% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 | — | #83 of 133 in ME |
| School district | MSAD 46 | RSU 10 | Madawaska Public Schools |
| High school in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.