Compare towns
Madison vs Paris 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).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Dexter has the most homeowners (66.3%).
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 | Paris | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782 |
5,317Highest |
3,822Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above 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%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Paris 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% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Paris 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% |
28.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest 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 |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| 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 |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% 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 |
— | $838±$119Lowest 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 | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest 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% |
12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
66.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest 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 | — | #114 of 133 in ME | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 13.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.