Caribou, ME vs Madison, ME

Caribou, ME and Madison, ME have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Caribou scores 66 while Madison scores 68 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Caribou is $696/month compared to $880/month in Madison — a 21% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Caribou has cheaper rent, Madison actually has lower median home values ($70,800 vs $120,300).

Median household income in Caribou is $54,271 compared to $43,095 in Madison (+25.9%). Caribou offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Caribou spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 24.5% in Madison.

Climate-wise, Madison is notably warmer with an average of 46.1°F compared to 40.7°F in Caribou. Madison receives more rainfall at 41.8" per year compared to 40.7" in Caribou.