Compare towns

Madison vs Madison 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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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.

MeasureMadisonMadisonParis
People
Population
4,782
2,676Lowest
5,317Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
ME: +2.6%
-3.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.1%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
49.6±3.4Highest
11% above ME
44.9±12.3Lowest
about the ME average
48.2±5.6
8% above ME
Madison and Paris 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%
11.6%±5.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
15.8%±5.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Paris 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%
22.9%±7.5Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.6%±5.9
ME: 22.4%
Madison and Paris 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%
18.6%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
28.8%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±2.8Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.4%±3.8
ME: 5.8%
5%±3.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
Paris and Madison 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
$61,698±$20kLowest
17% below ME
$75,137±$20kHighest
about the ME average
Paris 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
$163,900±$59kLowest
45% below ME
$240,400±$57kHighest
19% below ME
Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$906±$247Highest
20% below ME
$850±$218Lowest
25% below ME
—
Madison 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
$1,740Lowest
43% below ME
$2,649Highest
13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.9%±11.7
ME: 48.4%
22.5%±13.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
62.3%±13.9Highest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
15%Highest
ME: 10.7%
13%
ME: 10.7%
12.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.6%
ME: 74.3%
38.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
60.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
13 yrs older than ME
1953Lowest
24 yrs older than ME
1981Highest
4 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
9% above ME
31 minHighest
25% above ME
22 minLowest
9% below ME
Work from home
19.3%±10.7Lowest
ME: 15.9%
21.2%±14.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
19.4%±10.6
ME: 15.9%
Madison and Paris 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 59/MSAD 59 — RSU 17/MSAD 17
High school in town Madison Jr/Sr High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.