Compare towns

Brownfield vs Cornish vs Jay

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k 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.

MeasureBrownfieldCornishJay
People
Population
1,830
1,803Lowest
4,657Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
ME: +2.6%
+7.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
39.9±6.8Highest
11% below ME
39±8.5Lowest
13% below ME
39.5±5.1
12% below ME
Brownfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±5.7Highest
ME: 18.1%
18.2%±3.3
ME: 18.1%
17.5%±5.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.5%±1.3
ME: 22.4%
17.4%±4.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
Jay and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.3%
ME: 36.2%
21%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
29.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±0.9Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.8%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
Jay and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$60,889±$5kLowest
19% below ME
$69,038±$4k
8% below ME
$70,238±$19kHighest
6% below ME
Jay and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,500±$36kHighest
3% below ME
$274,200±$84k
8% below ME
$168,600±$27kLowest
43% below ME
Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,617±$554Highest
42% above ME
$1,196±$148
5% above ME
$759±$141Lowest
33% below ME
Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,976Highest
about the ME average
$2,309
24% below ME
$2,245Lowest
26% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.8%±43.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
48.8%±17.5
ME: 48.4%
27.2%±28.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Brownfield and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
ME: 10.7%
6.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
9.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
82.1%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
82.7%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
10 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
1980
3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
44 minHighest
80% above ME
31 min
27% above ME
21 minLowest
13% below ME
Work from home
9.5%±4.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.5%±2.4
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Brownfield and Cornish 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 — — #86 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 72/MSAD 72 — RSU 73
High school in town None in town — Spruce Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.