Compare towns
Madison vs Wells vs Rumford
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Rumford has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Wells | Rumford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Lowest |
11,713Highest |
5,942 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Lowest 11% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
50.4±3.4 13% above ME |
| Wells and Rumford 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% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Rumford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.2%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells and Rumford 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% |
18.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$38,403±$6kLowest 49% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$127,700±$21kLowest 57% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$803±$81Lowest 29% 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 | $1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,988 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
59.1%±11.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Rumford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
22.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
63.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1947Lowest 30 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Wells 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 | #126 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Wells High School | Mountain Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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.