Compare towns
Brooks vs Jefferson 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
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).
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 | Jefferson | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,013Lowest |
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. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
43.4±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Mars Hill 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% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
| Jefferson 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. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Jefferson 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. |
$867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Jefferson 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. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mars Hill 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 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% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 42/MSAD 42 |
| High school 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 | 14 photos → | 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.