Compare towns
Madison vs Dexter vs Madawaska
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Madison | Dexter | Madawaska |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
3,822Lowest |
3,853 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
52.6±4.1Highest 17% 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 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±4.8Highest 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+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madawaska 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% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$56,818±$9k 24% below ME |
| Madison and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$156,300±$15kLowest 47% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Highest 20% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
$635±$148Lowest 44% 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 | $1,983 35% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,923Lowest 37% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
60%±31.2 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 | 15% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
67.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1968 9 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
12 minLowest 53% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | MSAD 46 | Madawaska Public Schools |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Dexter Regional High School | Madawaska Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
13.3Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.