Compare towns
Madison vs Dexter vs Madison
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 expensive homes ($188k median).
Dexter has the most homeowners (66.3%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% 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 | Madison | Dexter | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
3,822 |
2,676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Dexter and Madison 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% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Madison 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 |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
| Madison and Madison 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 |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% 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±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
$850±$218 25% below ME |
| Madison and Madison 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 |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | MSAD 46 | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Dexter Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
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.