Compare towns
Norridgewock vs Appleton vs Madison vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norridgewock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Norridgewock | Appleton | Madison | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,288 |
1,360 |
4,782Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.3±11Highest 12% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Norridgewock and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Starks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,579±$19k 18% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,900±$52k 49% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$588 7% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
| Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,462 52% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±46.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
19.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 10% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 22.3%±13.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Norridgewock 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 | #91 of 133 in ME | — | — | — |
| School district | RSU 54/MSAD 54 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.