Compare towns
Madison vs Phillips 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Phillips has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Anson has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Phillips | Anson | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,094 |
680 |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-9.6% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
43.3±15.2Lowest 3% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
| Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
26.2%±5Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
8.2%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Phillips 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% |
20.7% ME: 36.2% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Phillips 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 |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$87,770±$61kHighest 17% above ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Anson and Starks 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 |
$190,800±$18kHighest 36% below ME |
$100,400±$28kLowest 66% below ME |
$148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
| Phillips and Madison 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$914±$247 20% 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 | $1,983 35% below ME |
$2,582Highest 15% below ME |
$1,207Lowest 60% below ME |
$1,348 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33 ME: 48.4% |
31.8%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Phillips are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% ME: 10.7% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.3% ME: 74.3% |
60.7% ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 13 yrs older than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1950Lowest 27 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
23 minLowest 8% below ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7 ME: 15.9% |
0%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | — | — |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | 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.