Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Dexter vs Anson
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Dexter has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Mapleton | Dexter | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,822 |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Anson 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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±$11k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$40k 37% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Mapleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | MSAD 46 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Dexter Regional High School | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.