Compare towns
Madison vs Phillips 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 highest household income ($62k).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Dexter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
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 | Phillips | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,094Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
51±6.8Highest 14% above ME |
| Dexter and Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Phillips 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% 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 | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | 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 History | 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.