Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton vs Limestone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k 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 | Madison | Appleton | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,360Lowest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20kHighest 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% 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 | $163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% 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 | $850±$218 25% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% 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 | $1,740 43% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| 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.