Compare towns
Paris vs Madison 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 highest household income ($75k).
Madison has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Norway has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Madison | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
4,782Lowest |
5,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+1.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.5±4.9 10% above ME |
| Madison and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Norway and Paris 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% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
27.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Norway 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Norway 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$54,342±$17kLowest 27% 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 |
$187,600±$40kLowest 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 | — | $906±$247Highest 20% below ME |
$770±$66Lowest 32% below ME |
| Madison and Norway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
$2,057 32% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
20.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
70.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
34 minHighest 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.2%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | #79 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 · Oxford-Region 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Oxford Hills Comprehensive H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.