Compare towns
Paris vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,317 |
11,713Highest |
4,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 48.2±5.6Lowest 8% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Wells 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% |
18%±3.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
$61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
| Wells 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 |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
$187,600±$40kLowest 37% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Wells 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 |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
$1,983Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Paris and Wells 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% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.2% ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 9% below ME |
28 minHighest 12% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.