Compare towns
Madison vs Calais 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Calais | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
1,713 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% 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% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Freedom 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. |
$1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Madison and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Lowest 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Madison School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.