Compare towns
Madison vs Mars Hill vs Ogunquit vs Houlton
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).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Houlton has the shortest commute (10 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 | Mars Hill | Ogunquit | Houlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676 |
1,398 |
1,379Lowest |
6,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
43.4±3Lowest 3% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
45.4±2.8 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
24.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill 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 |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$61,058±$14kLowest 18% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Mars Hill 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 |
$163,600±$23k 45% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$137,000±$31kLowest 54% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218Highest 25% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
— | $785±$66 31% below ME |
| Madison and Houlton 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 |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,707Lowest 44% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
54.7%±12.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
1978Highest 1 yr newer than ME |
1957 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
10 minLowest 58% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Ogunquit and Madison 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 | — | — | — | #50 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — | RSU 29/MSAD 29 · Houlton-Region 2 |
| High school in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — | Houlton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0Lowest |
— | 16.8Highest |
| 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.