Compare towns
Anson vs Madison vs Unity vs Howland
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).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
4,782Highest |
1,858 |
1,367Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
| Madison and Howland 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% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Howland 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% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Howland 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% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$62,857±$6kHighest 16% below ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Unity 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 |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$206,900±$28kHighest 30% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Unity and Madison 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 |
$906±$247 20% below ME |
$873±$73Lowest 23% below ME |
$916±$246 20% below ME |
| Anson and Howland 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 |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$2,510Highest 17% below ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Unity 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% |
15% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
72.3% ME: 74.3% |
77.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1970 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Unity 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Ecology Learning Ctr | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
10.0 |
12.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.