Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Monroe vs Madison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Mapleton has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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.
| Measure | Anson | Mapleton | Monroe | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,884 |
1,001 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average |
| Madison and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$850±$218 25% below ME |
| Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,207Highest 27% below ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1953 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.