Compare towns
Brooks vs Jay vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
471Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.5±7Lowest 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% |
23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Monroe 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% |
22.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% 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% |
5.3%±4.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$81,300±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Monroe 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±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$220,300±$57k 34% below U.S. |
| Jay and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,165±$152Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,207 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±47.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Monroe and Jay 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% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest 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 03/MSAD 03 |
| 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 |
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.