Compare towns
Madison vs Mapleton vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
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 | Mapleton | Wayne | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,884 |
1,101 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
43.3±15.2 3% below ME |
| Wayne and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kLowest 17% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$87,770±$61k 17% above ME |
| Wayne and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$554Highest 14% below ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Anson 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Madison 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 38 | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.