Compare towns
Madison vs Ogunquit vs Wells 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 most renters (45.4% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Ogunquit | Wells | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
1,379Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+18% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
53.6±3.8 20% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Wells 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
31%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
43.3% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Wells and Ogunquit 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$88,024±$11k 18% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Ogunquit and Wells 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$485,300±$23k 64% above ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
— | $1,350±$297Highest 19% above ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,983 35% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$3,215 6% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.1%±19.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
90.1% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
28 min 12% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
17.8%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | — | Wells High School | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
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.