Compare towns
Madison vs Wayne vs Limestone vs Paris
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).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
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 | Wayne | Limestone | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676 |
1,101Lowest |
1,579 |
5,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
| Wayne and Paris 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone and Paris 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne and Paris 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.3% ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
| Wayne and Paris 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218 25% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$754±$233Lowest 34% below ME |
— |
| Wayne and Madison 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2% ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1959 18 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
22 min 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 | — | — | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 38 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.