Compare towns
Anson vs Madison vs Starks
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).
Madison has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Madison | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
2,676Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Starks 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% |
22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Starks 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% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$163,900±$59kHighest 45% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Madison and Starks 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 |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
| Starks and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572 48% below ME |
$1,740Highest 43% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Madison 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% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 32% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | — | — |
| 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.