Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Lagrange vs Houlton
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Lagrange has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Houlton has the shortest commute (10 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 | Mapleton | Lagrange | Houlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
1,884 |
709Lowest |
6,056Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-10.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
45.9±13.8 about the ME average |
45.4±2.8 about the ME average |
| Madison and Lagrange 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
18%±4 ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.4%±4.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Houlton 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% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$58,417±$14kLowest 22% below ME |
$61,058±$14k 18% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kHighest 35% below ME |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$137,000±$31k 54% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$831±$151 27% below ME |
$785±$66 31% below ME |
| Madison and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Highest 35% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$1,707 44% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
54.7%±12.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Houlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.5% ME: 74.3% |
63.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1957Lowest 20 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
10 minLowest 58% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
6%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Mapleton 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 | — | — | — | #50 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 29/MSAD 29 · Houlton-Region 2 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | — | Houlton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | — | 16.8Highest |
| 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.