Compare towns
Madison vs Mercer 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 oldest population (median age 49.6).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Mercer | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
718 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
| Madison and Mercer 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% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mercer 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% |
25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer 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% |
0.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Mercer 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 |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
| Anson and Mercer 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 |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
| Mercer 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 |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
$914±$247 20% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983Highest 35% below ME |
$1,970 35% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74Lowest 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% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 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%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.