Compare towns
Anson vs Jay 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).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Embden has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Jay | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
4,657Highest |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$173,400±$59kHighest 42% below ME |
| Embden and Jay 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 |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
— |
| Anson and Jay 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 |
$2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.