Compare towns
Madison vs Limestone 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Limestone | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,579Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
45.3±4.9Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Limestone 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% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone 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 |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% 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 |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$838±$119 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 |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Limestone 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 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
8.6Lowest |
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.