Compare towns
Madison vs Phillips vs Strong
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%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Strong has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Phillips | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,094Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9Lowest 6% above ME |
| Phillips and Madison 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% |
20.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Phillips and Strong 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% |
21.3%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$47,557±$10k 36% below ME |
| Madison and Strong 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Phillips and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong 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 |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
17.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | 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.