Compare towns
Brooks vs Embden vs Jackson vs Knox
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).
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k 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 | Brooks | Embden | Jackson | Knox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
995 |
567Lowest |
825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Knox 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 |
$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
| Jackson and Knox 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 |
$173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$159,600±$26kLowest 46% below ME |
| Jackson and Brooks 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±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$1,804 41% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Brooks and Knox 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% |
12.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
80.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
33 min 34% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±7.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Jackson 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.