Compare towns
Brownfield vs Denmark 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).
Denmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Brownfield | Denmark | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,830 |
1,054Lowest |
4,657Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.9±6.8 11% below ME |
54.4±5Highest 21% above ME |
39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.8%±7.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Denmark 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 |
$64,167±$10k 14% below ME |
$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME |
| Jay and Denmark 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 |
$250,000±$68k 16% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark 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 |
$1,409±$207 24% above ME |
$759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
| Brownfield and Denmark 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 |
$2,259 26% below ME |
$2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.8%±43.7 ME: 48.4% |
90.6%±31Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Denmark and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% ME: 74.3% |
92.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 44 minHighest 80% above ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
12.7%±6.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Denmark and Brownfield 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.