What stands out worked out from the figures below

Perham has the most homeowners (92.5%).

Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Perham	Madison
People
Population	326Lowest	2,676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% ME: +2.6%
Median age	53±12.9Highest 18% above ME	44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average
	Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1%	11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4%	22.9%±7.5Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME	$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME
	Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME	$163,900±$59kHighest 45% below ME
	Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$850±$218 25% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,641Lowest 46% below ME	$1,740Highest 43% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	22.5%±13.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7%	13%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest ME: 74.3%	38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 1 yr older than ME	1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest about the ME average	31 minHighest 25% above ME
Work from home	8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9%	21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.