Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Solon 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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Solon | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884 |
963Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Solon 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Solon 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 |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% 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 |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 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 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.