Compare towns
Madison vs Sumner 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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Sumner | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
845Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
51±6.8 14% above ME |
| Sumner and Dexter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner and Dexter 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%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Madison and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% 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±$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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,186Highest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Dexter 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% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
23 minLowest 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Sumner 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 10 | 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.