Compare towns
Anson vs Beals 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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Beals has the most expensive homes ($257k median).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Beals | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
498Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48±15.6 7% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Beals 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% |
16.1%±6.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Beals 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% |
30.1%±5.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Beals 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% |
37.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±5.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Beals and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$64,063±$14kHighest 14% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Beals and Madison 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 |
$256,700±$45kHighest 13% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Beals and Madison 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 |
$907±$378 20% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Anson and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,580Highest 15% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
7.4%±71.2Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Anson 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% |
10.8% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
83.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1974Highest 3 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 17% below ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17.6%±10.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Beals are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Beals Public Schools | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.