Compare towns
Madison vs Wells 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782 |
11,713Highest |
2,676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Wells 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% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
| Wells 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 |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
31 minHighest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Wells High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.