Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Unity 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).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dexter has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884 |
1,858Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Mapleton and Unity 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±$23k 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Unity and Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Madison and Unity 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.4 |
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.