Compare towns
Madison vs Embden vs Anson vs Starks
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 renters (45.4% rent).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Starks has the highest household income ($64k).
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 | Embden | Anson | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
995 |
2,331 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 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+ | 25.1%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Embden 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
16.2% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 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 | $61,747±$11k 17% below ME |
$56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$63,500±$8kHighest 15% 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 | $187,600±$40kHighest 37% below ME |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Madison and Embden 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 |
— | $928±$62 19% below ME |
$1,063±$301Highest 7% 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 | $1,983Highest 35% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$1,572 48% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest 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 | 15% ME: 10.7% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
33 minHighest 34% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | 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 | 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.