Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton vs Rumford
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
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 | Appleton | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782 |
1,360Lowest |
5,942Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4Lowest 10% above ME |
50.4±3.4Highest 13% above ME |
| Rumford and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Rumford and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Rumford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton 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 | — | — | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.