Compare towns
Madison vs Unity vs Dexter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
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 | Unity | Dexter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,375Lowest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 28% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
51±6.8 31% above U.S. |
| Unity 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 24% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$51,845±$18kLowest 36% below U.S. |
| 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 44% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$170,600±$52kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 36% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$838±$119Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,186 30% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dexter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.