Compare towns
Anson vs Mapleton vs Union 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
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 | Union | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% below ME |
44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average |
| Madison and Anson 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% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Union 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Madison 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 |
$80,724±$9k 8% 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 |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $914±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$850±$218 25% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Anson and Union 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.7% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1953 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 26% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Union 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 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| 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.