Compare towns
Brooks vs Franklin vs Unity 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).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Franklin | Unity | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,628 |
1,858Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Franklin and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin and Jackson 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% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson and Franklin 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 |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Franklin and Jackson 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 |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% 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 |
$2,231 27% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Unity and Franklin 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% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
29 min 18% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.