Compare towns
Brooks vs Windsor vs Jackson vs Franklin
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 most affordable homes ($197k median).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Franklin has the most expensive homes ($246k median).
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 | Windsor | Jackson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,690Highest |
567Lowest |
1,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
43.5±8 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46±9.3Highest about the ME average |
| Franklin 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 ME: 18.1% |
23.2%±6.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Windsor and Brooks 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% |
14.3%±4.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
25.6%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Franklin 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% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
28.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Franklin 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 21% below ME |
$63,178±$5k 15% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$65,455±$16k 12% below ME |
| Jackson and Franklin 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 |
$228,800±$22k 23% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$245,800±$59kHighest 17% below ME |
| Franklin 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 about the ME average |
$1,265±$400Highest 11% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$888±$306 22% below ME |
| Windsor and Brooks 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 |
$2,160 29% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,231 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±31.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36.7%±27.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Windsor and Franklin 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% |
7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
15.7% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
76.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest about the ME average |
36 minHighest 45% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
29 min 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
6.5%±3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
12.2%±5.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 | — | — |
| 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.