Compare towns
Brooks vs Knox vs Unity 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Knox has the most affordable homes ($160k median).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Knox | Unity | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
825 |
1,375Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
41.1±7.9 6% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Knox 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. |
$64,821±$9k 20% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$75,167±$19k 7% below U.S. |
| Unity and Jackson 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. |
$159,600±$26kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$231,500±$16k 30% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$1,375±$47 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S. |
| Unity and Knox 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. |
$1,610Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,651 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.3%±31.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | Unity School District | — |
| High school 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.