Compare towns
Madison vs Perham 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 people working from home (21.2%).
Perham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Perham | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
326Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Perham 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% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Perham 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% |
18.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 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 | $61,698±$20k 17% below ME |
$62,500±$22kHighest 16% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Perham and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$59kHighest 45% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
| Madison and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$218Lowest 25% below ME |
— | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,740Highest 43% below ME |
$1,641 46% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Perham 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1976Highest 1 yr older than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school 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 |
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.