Compare towns
Madison vs Embden vs Dexter
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).
Embden has the most homeowners (96.3%).
Dexter has the shortest commute (23 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 | Embden | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
995Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Embden and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest 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%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Embden 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% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 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 |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Madison and Embden 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 |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Madison and Embden 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 |
| 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 |
$1,804Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Embden 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.