Compare towns
Anson vs Wayne vs Mexico 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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% 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 | Wayne | Mexico | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,331 |
1,101Lowest |
2,782Highest |
2,676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
| Wayne and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mexico 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5 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% |
13% ME: 36.2% |
18.6% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mexico 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$61,698±$20k 17% below 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±$14k 60% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
| Mexico 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,961 35% below ME |
$1,740 43% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77% ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1958 19 yrs older than ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
31 min 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.6%±3.6 ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 | — | — | #130 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 38 | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | — |
| High school in town | Carrabec High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.