Compare towns
Mexico vs Calais vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mexico has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Calais has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Mexico | Calais | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,782 |
3,097Highest |
2,331Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.4% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.8Lowest 3% below ME |
43.8±5.1 about the ME average |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
| Anson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±4 ME: 22.4% |
24.1%±5.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Calais and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% ME: 36.2% |
25.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,727±$9k 25% below ME |
$64,096±$10kHighest 14% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Calais and Mexico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,800±$10kLowest 63% below ME |
$111,100±$36k 63% below ME |
$117,800±$14kHighest 60% below ME |
| Anson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$275Highest 10% below ME |
$1,010±$199 11% below ME |
$928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,961Highest 35% below ME |
$1,684 45% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
53.7%±20.6 ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mexico and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7% ME: 10.7% |
21.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% ME: 74.3% |
73.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 19 yrs older than ME |
1969 8 yrs older than ME |
1972Highest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the ME average |
16 minLowest 35% below ME |
33 minHighest 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
2.6%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Mexico and Anson 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 | #130 of 133 in ME | #48 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Rumford-Region 9 · RSU 10 | Calais Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None in town | Calais Middle/High School | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.