Compare towns
Belfast vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Belfast | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jackson and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jackson and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92Highest 16% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,651Lowest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Belfast 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 | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 71 | — |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.