What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).

Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Madison	Mercer
People
Population	4,782Highest	718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6%	+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME	43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME
	Madison and Mercer 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%	20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mercer and Madison 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%	25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mercer and Madison 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%	34.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8%	0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME	$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME
	Mercer 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±$40kLowest 37% below ME	$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME
	Mercer 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	$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,983Highest 35% below ME	$1,970Lowest 35% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4%	18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Madison and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	92.1%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% above ME	30 minHighest 23% above ME
Work from home	19.3%±10.7Lowest ME: 15.9%	20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mercer and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 59/MSAD 59	—
High school in town	Madison Jr/Sr High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	10.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.