Compare towns
Madison vs Freedom vs Norridgewock
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 (45.4% rent).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.1%).
Norridgewock has the most affordable homes ($152k 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 | Freedom | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
670Lowest |
3,288 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME |
50.3±11Highest 12% above ME |
| Norridgewock and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.1%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
23.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME |
$61,579±$19kLowest 18% below ME |
| Freedom and Madison 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 |
$190,600±$69kHighest 36% below ME |
$151,900±$52kLowest 49% below ME |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
— | $1,063±$588Highest 7% below ME |
| Norridgewock and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
$1,462Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.4%±46.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Norridgewock and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
11.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
32 minHighest 29% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock 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 | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.