Compare towns
Starks vs Appleton vs Madison vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Mercer has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Starks | Appleton | Madison | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 556Lowest |
1,360 |
4,782Highest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
43.4±4.5Lowest 3% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.