Compare towns
Starks vs Dixmont vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Dixmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Starks | Dixmont | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,207 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Dixmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Highest 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% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME |
| Dixmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$190,700±$22kHighest 36% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Dixmont and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
| Dixmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$1,740Highest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Dixmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 33% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 19 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.