Compare towns
Paris vs Union 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317Highest |
2,663Lowest |
4,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Paris 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% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$20k about the ME average |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
| Union 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±$57k 19% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
| Union and Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.5% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Lowest 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 40/MSAD 40 | 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.