Compare towns
Anson vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Exeter | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,093Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Madison 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Madison 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Exeter 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Exeter 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
| Madison and Exeter 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 |
$995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Exeter and Anson 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 |
$1,602 47% below ME |
$1,983Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Exeter 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 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | 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.