Compare towns
Anson vs Cushing vs Embden 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).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Cushing | Embden | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,460 |
995Lowest |
2,676Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
| Embden and Cushing 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% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Cushing 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% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden 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% |
38.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Cushing 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 |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
| Cushing 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 |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
— | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$3,944Highest 30% above ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Cushing and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% ME: 10.7% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
23 minLowest 5% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Embden 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 13 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.