What stands out worked out from the figures below

Howland has the most expensive homes ($150k median).

Anson has the most people working from home (3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Howland	Anson
People
Population	1,367Lowest	2,331Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-8.8%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.6±10.2Highest 6% above ME	46.7±6.2Lowest 4% 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%±5.3Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1%
	Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12%Highest ME: 36.2%	11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2.7Highest 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	$49,297±$21kLowest 34% below ME	$52,474±$21kHighest 30% below ME
	Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$150,100±$52kHighest 49% below ME	$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME
	Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$916±$246Lowest 20% below ME	$928±$62Highest 19% 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	$1,546Lowest 49% below ME	$1,572Highest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29%±18.2Highest ME: 48.4%	20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Howland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.2%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.9%Lowest ME: 74.3%	79.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME	1972Highest 5 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 26% above ME	33 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9%	3%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9%
	Anson and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 31/MSAD 31	RSU 74/MSAD 74
High school in town	Penobscot Valley High School	Carrabec High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.