Compare towns
Madison vs Ogunquit vs Wells 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 renters (45.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wells has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Wells and Dexter 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Wells and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | Wells High School | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
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.