Compare towns
Brooks vs Windsor vs Jackson 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
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Windsor | Jackson | Mars Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
3,554Highest |
567Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
37.7±5.8Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.4±3 12% above U.S. |
| Brooks and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mars Hill and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3 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±$10k 27% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$75,167±$19kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$65,273±$9k 19% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$231,500±$16kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$163,600±$23kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Windsor 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. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$629±$12 55% below U.S. |
$488±$96Lowest 65% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Windsor 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$2,651 15% below U.S. |
$1,843Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor and Mars Hill 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| 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 | 12 photos → | 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.