Compare towns
Madison vs Washington vs Starks
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).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Starks has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
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 | Washington | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,624 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Washington and Starks 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% |
14.2%±4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Washington 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% |
21.3%±4.3 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Washington 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Washington 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 |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$195,200±$36kHighest 34% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Washington and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Washington 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 |
$2,286Highest 25% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Washington and Starks 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% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 25% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.