Compare towns
Paris vs Appleton vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Paris has the highest household income ($75k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Paris | Appleton | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
1,360Lowest |
4,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Paris and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 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+ | 28.8% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
| Paris and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649 13% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Paris 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 | #114 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | 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 |
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.