Compare towns
Brooks vs 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
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
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 | Belfast | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
6,986Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 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 | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Brooks and Belfast 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 |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Belfast 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% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
22 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 71 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | — |
| 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.