Compare towns
Madison vs Limestone vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
Limestone has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Limestone | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,579 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks 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% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Limestone 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% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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±$20k 17% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$59kHighest 45% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Madison and Starks 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 |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740Highest 43% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — |
| High school 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.