Compare towns
Anson vs Readfield vs Wayne vs Madison
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).
Readfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Madison has the most renters (45.4% rent).
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 | Readfield | Wayne | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
0%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48.1±7.6 7% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
49.6±3.4 11% 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% |
18.7%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8 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% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8 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 |
$86,504±$8k 16% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$326,400±$20k 10% above ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 |
$1,125±$844Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Readfield and Wayne 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 |
$3,392Highest 12% above ME |
$3,289 8% above ME |
$1,983 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
31.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Readfield 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% |
5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 20% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
24.3%±14.9 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 38 | RSU 38 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
11.5 |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| 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.