Compare towns
Madison vs Sumner 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).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Sumner | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,782Highest |
845Lowest |
2,331 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% ME: +2.6% |
+5.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.6±3.4 11% above ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Madison 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% |
15.4% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$57,750±$19k 23% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Madison and Sumner 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 |
$150,000±$73k 49% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Madison and Sumner 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 |
$2,167Highest 29% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±11.7 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 13 yrs older than ME |
1977Highest same as ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Sumner 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 10 | 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.