Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Wayne vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Mapleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.2%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
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 | Madison | Mapleton | Wayne | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
1,884 |
1,101Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Wayne and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest 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+ | 18.6% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$59k 45% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218 25% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
| Wayne and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740 43% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wayne and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| 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.