Compare towns
Brooks vs Jay vs Waldo vs Jackson
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 most affordable homes ($197k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Waldo | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
471Lowest |
926 |
567 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
37.7±5.8 3% below 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% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo 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%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Jay 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. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
$75,167±$19kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
$231,500±$16k 30% below U.S. |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$691Highest 19% below U.S. |
$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S. |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$2,651 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo 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% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Waldo 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 | Waldo-Region 7 | — |
| 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 |
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.