Compare towns
Madison vs Appleton 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 (19.3%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.
| Measure | Madison | Appleton | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,360 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
| Anson and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
| Appleton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Appleton Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.