What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).

Millinocket has the most homeowners (83.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Millinocket
People
Population	2,676Lowest	3,779Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Highest ME: +2.6%	-8.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average	57.5±7.3Highest 28% above ME
	Millinocket and Madison 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%	12.1%±6.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Millinocket and Madison 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%	39.4%±8.7Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%	19.4%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	4.3%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Millinocket 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	$50,445±$11kLowest 32% below ME
	Madison and Millinocket 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	$99,800±$24kLowest 66% below ME
	Madison and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$218Highest 25% below ME	$451±$130Lowest 60% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,740Highest 43% below ME	$1,538Lowest 49% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.5%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4%	20.5%±11Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Millinocket 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%	18.7%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	83.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME	1956Highest 21 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%	1.7%±3Lowest ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#98 of 133 in ME
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.