Compare towns
Madison vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782 |
18,300Highest |
3,822Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
| 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%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham and Dexter 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Dexter 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 minHighest 10% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Gorham Public Schools | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Gorham High School | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.9 |
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.