What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Portland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Portland	Anson
People
Population	686Lowest	2,331Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest ME: +2.6%	-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	41.4±5.4Lowest 8% below ME	46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME
	Anson and New Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±5.3Highest ME: 18.1%	22.1%±5.6Lowest ME: 18.1%
	New Portland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±3.5Lowest ME: 22.4%	18.3%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Anson and New Portland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8%	3.2%±2.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	New Portland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,375±$21kHighest about the ME average	$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME
	New Portland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$176,000±$35kHighest 41% below ME	$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$337±$332Lowest 70% below ME	$928±$62Highest 19% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,923Highest 37% below ME	$1,572Lowest 48% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	94.7%±88.2Highest ME: 48.4%	20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	New Portland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest ME: 10.7%	8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest ME: 74.3%	79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 4 yrs older than ME	1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 28% above ME	33 minHighest 32% above ME
Work from home	7.2%±6Highest ME: 15.9%	3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	New Portland and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	RSU 74/MSAD 74
High school in town	—	Carrabec High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.