Compare towns
Madison vs Solon vs Windham 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).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Solon | Windham | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,782 |
963Lowest |
19,188Highest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1% ME: +2.6% |
+8.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
45.9±5.4 about the ME average |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Madison and Anson 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% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Windham 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% |
23.9%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Solon 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% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Windham 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 |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,600±$40k 37% below ME |
$183,600±$12k 38% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$247Lowest 20% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
| Windham 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
26 minLowest 7% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Windham 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 | — | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 59/MSAD 59 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 14 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | Madison Jr/Sr High School | None in town | Windham High School | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.6 |
| 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.