Compare towns
Belgrade vs Jackson vs Oakland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most homeowners (93.8%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Oakland has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Belgrade | Jackson | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
897Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
40.2±6.9Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakland and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$77,813±$16kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44k 6% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$236,000±$23kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$939±$74 34% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,439Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.7%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oakland and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Belgrade 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #23 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Jackson School District | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.