Compare towns
Starks vs Anson vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.3%).
Anson has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most people working from home (7.5%).
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 | Starks | Anson | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556 |
2,331Highest |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-12.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Lowest 4% above ME |
46.7±6.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48.8±8Highest 9% above ME |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
18.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Anson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$65,417±$15kHighest 12% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27k 50% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$154,900±$78kHighest 48% below ME |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Highest 7% below ME |
$928±$62 19% below ME |
$768±$116Lowest 33% below ME |
| Starks and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,572Highest 48% below ME |
$1,417 53% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
38.9%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972 5 yrs older than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 33% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
22 minLowest 10% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±5.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Bridgewater and Starks 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 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.