Compare towns
Brooks vs Jackson vs Mapleton vs Solon
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Solon has the most homeowners (88.6%).
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 | Mapleton | Solon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
567Lowest |
1,884Highest |
963 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Solon 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon and Mapleton 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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±$19k about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% 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±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
| Brooks and Solon 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,854 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 min 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest 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 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | None 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.