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 (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 | Starks | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,676Highest |
556Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 44.9±12.3Lowest about the ME average |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest 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% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Starks 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 |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% 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 |
$928±$62 19% 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Madison 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% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 25% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.