Compare towns
Anson vs Athens vs Howland
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).
Athens has the most people working from home (6.1%).
Howland has the most renters (22.1% 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 | Athens | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
791Lowest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-6.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Athens and Howland 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% |
21.7%±5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 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% |
24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Athens and Howland 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% |
17.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Athens and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kHighest 30% below ME |
$50,750±$14k 32% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Anson and Athens 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 |
$153,100±$33kHighest 48% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Athens and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Highest 48% below ME |
$1,355Lowest 55% below ME |
$1,546 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Athens and Howland 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% |
23.3% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
94.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.1%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Athens and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Athens Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.