Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton vs Paris vs Anson
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 renters (61.1% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Paris has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Anson has the most kids (26.2% 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 | Madison | Appleton | Paris | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676 |
1,360 |
5,317Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
| Appleton and Paris 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% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Paris 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% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris 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±$20k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
| Anson and Paris 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
| Paris and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
— | $914±$247 20% below ME |
| Appleton and Anson 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 |
$2,649 13% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Paris 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 | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.