Compare towns
Madison vs Orient vs Anson 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).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Orient | Anson | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
137Lowest |
2,331 |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
— | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Orient 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% |
16.8%±18.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Orient 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% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
— | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Madison and Anson 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 |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
— | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% 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 |
— | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
— | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | Carrabec High School | Dexter Regional High School |
| 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.