Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton vs Dexter vs Norridgewock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Dexter has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
Norridgewock has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Madison | Appleton | Dexter | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,822 |
3,288 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
50.3±11 12% above ME |
| Dexter and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
| Madison and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$1,063±$588 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
20.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock 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 | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Appleton Public Schools | MSAD 46 | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Dexter Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
— |
| 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.