What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Perham has the most homeowners (92.5%).

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	Perham
People
Population	2,676Highest	326Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7% ME: +2.6%	—
Median age	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME
	Perham 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%	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Perham 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%	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%
	Perham and Madison 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%	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME
	Perham 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	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME
	Madison and Perham 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,740Highest 43% below ME	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4%	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Madison 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%	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 25% above ME	25 minLowest about the ME average
Work from home	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.