Compare towns
Brooks vs Jackson vs Phillips vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Phillips has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Phillips | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
567Lowest |
1,094 |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-12.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
49.7±3.7Highest 11% above ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
| Phillips 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% |
20.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Phillips 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% |
21.3%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Phillips 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% |
20.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
26% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mars Hill 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$45,385±$12kLowest 39% below ME |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
| Jackson and Mars Hill 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 |
$190,800±$18k 36% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% 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 |
$483±$377Lowest 58% below ME |
$488±$96 57% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,582 15% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
40.4%±33Highest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Phillips and Mars Hill 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% |
17.7% ME: 10.7% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
16.8%±7Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Phillips 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 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 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.