Compare towns
Madison vs Ogunquit vs Chester
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Chester has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,379 |
598Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
44±10Lowest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.4%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chester and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ogunquit 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±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$64,500±$8k 14% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Chester 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$172,500±$59kLowest 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Highest 20% below ME |
— | $833±$51Lowest 27% below ME |
| Madison and Chester 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 |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,378Lowest 55% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±37.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Chester 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 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.