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 (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 | Appleton | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,360Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above 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% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest 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% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest 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±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Madison and Appleton 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 |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% 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 |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Madison 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% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest 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 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.