Compare towns
Madison vs Sumner vs Limestone
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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Limestone has the shortest commute (19 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 | Sumner | Limestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
845Lowest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest 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±$20kHighest 17% below ME |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
| Madison and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
| Madison and Sumner 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 |
— | $754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
| Madison and Limestone 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 |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 10 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None 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.