Compare towns
Madison vs Paris 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).
Paris has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.1%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Paris | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782 |
5,317Highest |
2,331Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-0.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
48.2±5.6 8% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% 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% |
15.8%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Paris 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% |
24.6%±5.9 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest 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% |
28.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±3.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Paris and Madison 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 |
$75,137±$20kHighest about the ME average |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Paris 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±$40k 37% below ME |
$240,400±$57kHighest 19% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Paris 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 |
— | $928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Madison 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 |
$2,649Highest 13% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
62.3%±13.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest ME: 10.7% |
12.5% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
60.2% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1981Highest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
22 minLowest 9% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7 ME: 15.9% |
19.4%±10.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | #114 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.