Compare towns
Appleton vs Madison vs Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Paris has the shortest commute (22 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 | Appleton | Madison | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,676 |
5,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Paris and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
| Paris and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
— |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Paris 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 | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None 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.