Compare towns
Anson vs Brooks vs Embden
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).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Embden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
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 | Brooks | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
1,208 |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
45.9±6.6Lowest about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$59,130±$10kHighest 21% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Brooks and Embden 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 |
$196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Brooks and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,096Highest 31% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Anson and Brooks 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% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.