Compare towns
Anson vs Perry 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).
Perry has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Howland has the oldest population (median age 47.6).
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 | Perry | Howland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331Highest |
744Lowest |
1,367 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.8% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
45.5±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME |
| Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
22%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Anson 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% |
21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Howland and Perry 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% |
31.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
12% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
$82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$196,400±$13kHighest 34% below ME |
$150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
| Perry and Howland 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 |
— | $916±$246Lowest 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 |
$3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$1,546Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Howland and Perry 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% |
4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
25.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
26 minLowest 6% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Perry Public Schools | RSU 31/MSAD 31 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Penobscot Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.