Compare towns
Chatham vs Jackson vs Fryeburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Jackson has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Fryeburg has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Chatham | Jackson | Fryeburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
897 |
3,489Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$893±$85Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,928Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fryeburg and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Fryeburg 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 | — | — | #103 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Jackson School District | RSU 72/MSAD 72 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.