Compare towns
Anson vs Madison vs Wells
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Lowest |
4,782 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+18%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
53.6±3.8Highest 20% above ME |
| Wells 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%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Wells 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% |
43.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 18% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$485,300±$23kHighest 64% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
$3,215Highest 6% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.0Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.