Compare towns
Madison vs Unity vs Anson 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%).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Dexter has the oldest population (median age 51).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Anson | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,858Lowest |
2,331 |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
46.7±6.2 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.2%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
19.7%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Dexter 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% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
16.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$51,845±$18kLowest 31% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$170,600±$52k 42% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$838±$119Lowest 26% below ME |
| Anson 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 |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,186 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.2%±20.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Dexter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%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 |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
23 min 7% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.1%±8 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Unity 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 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | MSAD 46 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | Carrabec High School | Dexter Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.4 |
11.6 |
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.