Compare towns
Madawaska vs Mapleton vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madawaska has the shortest commute (12 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Madawaska | Mapleton | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,853Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.1Highest 17% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Madawaska and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Mapleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $635±$148 44% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$838±$119Highest 26% 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 | $1,923 37% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest 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 | 13% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 53% below ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dexter and Mapleton 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 | #83 of 133 in ME | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Madawaska Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madawaska Middle/High School | None in town | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| 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.