Compare towns
Madison vs Phillips vs Solon 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).
Phillips has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Solon has the highest household income ($69k).
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 | Solon | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,094 |
963Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.7±3.7 11% above ME |
45.9±5.4Lowest about the ME average |
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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Solon 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest 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% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 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±$11k 17% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$69,205±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$51,845±$18k 31% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% 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±$247 20% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$915±$100Highest 20% below ME |
$838±$119 26% below ME |
| Solon 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 |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,854Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%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 |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 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 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | 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 | 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.