Compare towns
Madison vs Millinocket 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Starks has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Millinocket | Anson | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
4,115 |
2,331 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.7% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
54.2±6.2Highest 21% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
| Millinocket and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.1%±5.9 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% |
36.2%±8.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Millinocket 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% |
18.6% 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% |
4%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Millinocket 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 |
$51,007±$9kLowest 32% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 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 |
$103,800±$26kLowest 65% below ME |
$117,800±$14k 60% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Madison and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247 20% below ME |
$451±$130Lowest 60% 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 |
$1,580 48% 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% |
20.5%±11Lowest 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% |
17.1% 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% |
84.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1956Lowest 21 yrs older than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 32% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.6%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Millinocket 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 | — | #98 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | Millinocket Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | Carrabec High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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.