Compare towns
Brooks vs Augusta vs Jackson vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Brooks | Augusta | Jackson | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
19,077Highest |
567Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Jackson and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
| Jackson and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$919±$79 19% below ME |
$629±$12 45% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$2,465 19% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9Highest |
— | 8.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.