Compare towns
Howland vs Anson vs Lagrange vs Maxfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howland has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Lagrange has the most people working from home (8.1%).
Maxfield has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Howland | Anson | Lagrange | Maxfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,367 |
2,331Highest |
709 |
76Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 47.6±10.2 6% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
45.9±13.8Lowest about the ME average |
54.5±5Highest 22% above ME |
| Maxfield and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±5.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
7.9%±39.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Lagrange and Anson 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%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±6.9 ME: 22.4% |
13.2%±44.7Lowest 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% ME: 36.2% |
9% ME: 36.2% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±14.7Lowest 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±$21k 30% below ME |
$58,417±$14k 22% below ME |
$92,500±$48kHighest 24% above ME |
| Maxfield and Lagrange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,100±$52k 49% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$126,000±$33k 58% below ME |
$164,600±$35kHighest 45% below ME |
| Maxfield and Howland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $916±$246 20% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$831±$151Lowest 27% 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 | $1,546 49% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$2,333Highest 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29%±18.2 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Lagrange and Howland 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% ME: 10.7% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
100%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1999Highest 22 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 26% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
56 minHighest 129% above ME |
| Work from home | 0%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±39.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Lagrange and Anson 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 | 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.