Compare towns

Madison vs Starks 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%).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
Anson has the most kids (26.2% 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.

MeasureMadisonStarksAnson
People
Population
2,676Highest
556Lowest
680
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-7.3%
ME: +2.6%
-9.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
44.9±12.3
about the ME average
46.7±9.4Highest
4% above ME
43.3±15.2Lowest
3% below ME
Starks and Madison 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%
16.4%±4.4
ME: 18.1%
26.2%±5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
22.9%±7.5Highest
ME: 22.4%
20.3%±2.2
ME: 22.4%
8.2%±5.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Madison and Starks 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%
21%Highest
ME: 36.2%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±3.8Highest
ME: 5.8%
0.9%±2.3
ME: 5.8%
0%±2.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Madison and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,698±$20kLowest
17% below ME
$63,500±$8k
15% below ME
$87,770±$61kHighest
17% above ME
Anson and Starks 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
$148,500±$27k
50% below ME
$100,400±$28kLowest
66% below ME
Madison and Starks 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
$1,063±$301Highest
7% below ME
$914±$247
20% below ME
Starks and Anson 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
$1,348
56% below ME
$1,207Lowest
60% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
22.5%±13.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
45.5%±90.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
31.8%±37.5
ME: 48.4%
Starks and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13%
ME: 10.7%
19.2%Highest
ME: 10.7%
8.7%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
38.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
90%Highest
ME: 74.3%
60.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1953
24 yrs older than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
1950Lowest
27 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
25% above ME
33 minHighest
33% above ME
31 min
26% above ME
Work from home
21.2%±14.1Highest
ME: 15.9%
3.3%±2.4
ME: 15.9%
0%±4.1Lowest
ME: 15.9%
On TownTapestry
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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.