Compare towns
Eliot vs Madison vs Ogunquit vs Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Paris has the youngest population (median age 48.2).
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.
| Measure | Eliot | Madison | Ogunquit | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
4,782 |
1,379Lowest |
5,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 13% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Eliot and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 36% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
| Ogunquit and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 68% above ME |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 71% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 50% above ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$4,473 47% above ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 9% below ME |
27 minHighest 9% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.