Compare towns
Brooks vs Limestone vs Monroe vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Limestone | Monroe | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,579Highest |
1,001 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Brooks and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Monroe 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 34% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Monroe and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| 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 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.