Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Milo vs Machias
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
Machias has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Milo | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,165 |
2,020 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.9±7 about the ME average |
40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME |
| Madison and Milo 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Milo 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Machias 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
16%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% below ME |
$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME |
| Mapleton 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±$59k 45% below ME |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% below ME |
$141,300±$17k 52% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$879±$400Highest 23% below ME |
$692±$276 39% below ME |
| Milo 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,450Lowest 52% below ME |
$1,885Highest 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8 ME: 48.4% |
58.9%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Machias and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
25.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
49.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
16 minLowest 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | Machias Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.