Compare towns
Madison vs Starks 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Starks | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
556Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% 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% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Starks 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% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
16.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Starks 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±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Madison and Dexter 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 |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Starks 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% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Dexter 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 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.