Compare towns
Anson vs Limerick vs Madison 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).
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Limerick | Madison | Embden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
3,400 |
4,782Highest |
995Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
40.4±9.2Lowest 10% below ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
18.7%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Limerick 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% |
17.1%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest 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% |
27.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison 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 |
$101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$269,400±$29kHighest 9% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,520Highest 17% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Limerick 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.8% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
38 minHighest 53% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 min 34% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 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 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 | 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.