What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caribou has the most people working from home (12.5%).

Madawaska has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Caribou	Madawaska
People
Population	7,382Highest	3,853Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-4.2%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	51.3±1.7Lowest 15% above ME	52.6±4.1Highest 17% above ME
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1%	20.1%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.3%±4Lowest ME: 22.4%	28.8%±5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	22.3%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.5%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Caribou and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,709±$9kLowest 28% below ME	$56,818±$9kHighest 24% below ME
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$134,100±$31kLowest 55% below ME	$156,300±$15kHighest 47% below ME
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$757±$143Highest 34% below ME	$635±$148Lowest 44% below ME
	Caribou and Madawaska are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,680Lowest 45% below ME	$1,923Highest 37% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.3%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	60%±31.2Highest ME: 48.4%
	Madawaska and Caribou are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	13%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.3%Highest ME: 74.3%	67.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 17 yrs older than ME	1968Highest 9 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minHighest 40% below ME	12 minLowest 53% below ME
Work from home	12.5%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9%	5.7%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Caribou and Madawaska 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	#59 of 133 in ME	#83 of 133 in ME
School district	RSU 39	Madawaska Public Schools
High school in town	Caribou High School	Madawaska Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.