Compare towns
Brooks vs Jackson vs Jay
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jackson | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
567Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
| Brooks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Jay 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Jay 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
| Jackson and Jay 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 |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% 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±$112Highest about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #86 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| 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.