Compare towns
Anson vs Appleton vs Howland 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 ($118k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Madison has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Appleton | Howland | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,360Lowest |
1,367 |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest 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 | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
$61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 48% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
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.