Compare towns
Madison vs Millinocket vs Dexter vs Paris
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).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Dexter has the most kids (16.2% under 18).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Millinocket | Dexter | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
4,115 |
3,822Lowest |
5,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-8.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
| Millinocket and Dexter 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% |
16.1%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket and Madison 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% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris 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 |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
| Paris 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 |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
| Paris and Madison 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 |
$451±$130Lowest 60% 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 |
$1,580Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
$2,649Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
17.1% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
24 min about the ME average |
23 min 7% below ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Madison 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 | — | #98 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Millinocket Public Schools | MSAD 46 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | Dexter Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.6 |
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.