Compare towns
Madawaska vs Ogunquit vs Newport 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Newport has the youngest population (median age 50.3).
Dexter has the most renters (33.7% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Newport | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,853Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,143 |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.1 17% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
50.3±3.2Lowest 12% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.7%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 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+ | 28.8%±5 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.8%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 22.3% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.9% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 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 | $56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$60,365±$13k 19% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$234,800±$30k 21% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $635±$148Lowest 44% below ME |
— | $893±$104Highest 22% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Newport and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,923Lowest 37% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,018 about the ME average |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±31.2 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.3%±16.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.6% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 9 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 12 minLowest 53% below ME |
26 minHighest 7% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.7%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 133 in ME | — | #97 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Madawaska Public Schools | — | RSU 19 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madawaska Middle/High School | — | Nokomis Regional High School | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.