Compare towns
Madison vs Starks vs Wayne
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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Starks | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
556Lowest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne 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 |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne and Starks 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
| Starks and Wayne 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 |
| 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.