Compare towns
Madison vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Strong has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Strong | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
1,249Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4Highest 11% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
19.5%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Strong 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% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
26.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
| Madison and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,747±$11kHighest 17% below ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
$52,474±$21k 30% below ME |
| Madison and Anson 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 |
$183,900±$29k 38% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Madison and Strong 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 |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
| Anson and Strong 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 |
$1,950 36% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Madison and Strong 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1971 6 yrs older than ME |
1972Highest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 min 26% above ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Strong 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 | 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 History | 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.