Compare towns
Madison vs Gorham vs Anson vs Paris
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Paris has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Gorham | Anson | Paris |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
18,300Highest |
680Lowest |
5,317 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
39.4±2.9Lowest 12% below ME |
43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
| Madison and Paris 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% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Paris 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% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
28.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
$75,137±$20k about the ME average |
| Gorham and Anson 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 |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$240,400±$57k 19% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$2,649 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
60.2% 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 |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Paris and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #114 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Gorham Public Schools | — | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.