Compare towns
Madison vs Peru vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Peru has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Peru | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,501Lowest |
2,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Madison and Peru 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% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison 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% ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$66,827±$19kHighest 11% below ME |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME |
| Peru 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±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Madison 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 |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$850±$218 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 | $1,983Highest 35% below ME |
$1,799 41% below ME |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Madison 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison 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 | RSU 56 | — |
| 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 | 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.