Compare towns
Brooks vs Temple vs Jackson vs Monroe
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Temple | Jackson | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
824 |
567Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Brooks and Monroe 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% |
32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Temple and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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% |
13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| 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±$10k 21% below ME |
$56,087±$2kLowest 25% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| 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±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$210,200±$79k 29% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% 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 |
$1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Temple and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,367 22% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Temple and Monroe 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% |
10.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
34 min 37% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±8.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 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 | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.