Compare towns
Brooks vs Jay vs Mars Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
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 | Jay | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
471Lowest |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Jay and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mars Hill and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 41% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Jay 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 21% below U.S. |
— | $488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.