Compare towns
Belfast vs Jackson vs Monroe
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 most expensive homes ($341k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Belfast | Jackson | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,986Highest |
567Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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±$19k about the ME average |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe and Jackson 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$220,300±$57kLowest 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $962±$92 16% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$2,207Lowest 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Belfast 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% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | Belfast Area High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.