Compare towns
Brooks vs Jackson vs Peru
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%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k 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 | Jackson | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
567Lowest |
1,501Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
| Peru and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Peru 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 |
$66,827±$19k 11% below ME |
| Jackson and Peru 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 |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% 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 |
$723±$16 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Peru 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% |
9.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Lowest 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 56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.