Compare towns
Madison vs Smithfield 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).
Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Smithfield | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
856Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-10.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
55.8±3.5Highest 25% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Smithfield and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
10%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Dexter and Madison 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% |
29.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Smithfield and Madison 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% |
34.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$107,917±$27kHighest 44% above ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$242,800±$15kHighest 18% below ME |
$170,600±$52kLowest 42% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$1,109±$358Highest about the ME average |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Smithfield 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 |
$2,866Highest 6% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±45.2 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer 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% |
22%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Smithfield 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 | — | — | #113 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | 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.