Compare towns
Madison vs Brewer vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the highest household income ($103k).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Brewer | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
9,652Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$389,000±$43kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,478 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freedom 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Brewer Public Schools | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.