Compare towns
Madison vs Wayne vs Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Machias has the shortest commute (16 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 | Wayne | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,101Lowest |
2,020 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-7.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
40.8±9.6Lowest 9% below ME |
| Wayne 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% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Machias and Wayne 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% |
20.2%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
12.7%±3.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$34,375±$16kLowest 54% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$141,300±$17kLowest 52% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218 25% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$692±$276Lowest 39% 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 | $1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,885 38% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
58.9%±22.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Machias and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
49.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 25% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
16 minLowest 33% below ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 38 | Machias Public Schools |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Machias Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.