Compare towns
Paris vs Chapman vs Norway
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 most people working from home (19.4%).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Norway has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Chapman | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
388Lowest |
5,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | +1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
49.5±4.9Highest 10% above ME |
| Norway and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,137±$20k about the ME average |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$54,342±$17kLowest 27% below ME |
| Chapman and Paris 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 |
$185,700±$22kLowest 37% below ME |
$215,800±$29k 27% below ME |
| Paris and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $770±$66 32% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$1,850Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.7%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Norway 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% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Norway 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 | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
| 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.