Compare towns
Brooks vs Baldwin vs Jackson vs Franklin
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 most affordable homes ($197k median).
Baldwin has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Brooks | Baldwin | Jackson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,170 |
567Lowest |
1,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46±9.3 about the ME average |
| Baldwin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Franklin 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% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Jackson and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$245,800±$59k 17% below ME |
| Baldwin and Franklin 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 |
— | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
| Brooks and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.