Compare towns
Brooks vs Danforth 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
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Brooks | Danforth | Jackson | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
666 |
567Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Danforth and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Brooks 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% |
26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and Monroe 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% 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 | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Danforth 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% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
28 min 15% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 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 | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.