Compare towns
Anson vs Strong 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).
Strong has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
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 | Strong | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,249Lowest |
4,782Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Strong 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%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Anson 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
| Madison and Anson 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 |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
| Madison and Strong 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 |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
| Anson and Strong 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,983Highest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 5 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Strong 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 59/MSAD 59 |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.