Compare towns
Appleton vs Madison vs Rumford
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
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 | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
4,782 |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Rumford and Madison 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% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Appleton 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% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison 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 |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% 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 |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rumford 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% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
63.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton 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 | — | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.