Compare towns
Paris vs Sumner 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 most expensive homes ($240k median).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Sumner | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
845Lowest |
4,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Sumner and Madison 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% |
17.2%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $906±$247 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Lowest 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 | RSU 10 | 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.