Compare towns
Burnham vs Madison vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Alton has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Burnham | Madison | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
4,782Highest |
819Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.1±5.9 10% above ME |
| Madison and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,261±$18kLowest 21% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$62,955±$9kHighest 16% below ME |
| Alton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,100±$43kLowest 40% below ME |
$187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$179,500±$25k 39% below ME |
| Madison and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$866±$48Lowest 24% below ME |
| Burnham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,897 38% below ME |
$1,983Highest 35% below ME |
$1,476Lowest 51% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±49 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
76.3%±88.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Alton and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
24.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 17%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±7.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 34 |
| High school in town | — | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.