Compare towns
Anson vs Madison vs Wayne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
4,782Highest |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
| Wayne 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% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Wayne 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% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 38 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
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| 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.