Compare towns

Chesterville vs Jay vs Temple

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterville has the most expensive homes ($214k median).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Temple has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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.

MeasureChestervilleJayTemple
People
Population
1,397
4,657Highest
824Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
ME: +2.6%
-4.8%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-0.2%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.8±4
16% below ME
39.5±5.1Highest
12% below ME
34±14Lowest
24% below ME
Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
31.3%±6.6
ME: 18.1%
17.5%±5.4Lowest
ME: 18.1%
32.8%±7.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Temple and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15%±3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
19.3%±4.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
15%±6.3Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.4%
ME: 36.2%
29.7%Highest
ME: 36.2%
13.2%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
4.5%±3.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±2.1
ME: 5.8%
Jay and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$61,635±$10k
18% below ME
$70,238±$19kHighest
6% below ME
$56,087±$2kLowest
25% below ME
Jay and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$214,000±$40kHighest
28% below ME
$168,600±$27kLowest
43% below ME
$210,200±$79k
29% below ME
Chesterville and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,088±$73
4% below ME
$759±$141Lowest
33% below ME
$1,458±$565Highest
28% above ME
Temple and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,194Lowest
28% below ME
$2,245
26% below ME
$2,367Highest
22% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.8%±30.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
27.2%±28.8
ME: 48.4%
73.3%±70.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
Temple and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12%Highest
ME: 10.7%
9.8%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.2%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.4%
ME: 74.3%
82.7%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.7%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
1 yr newer than ME
1980Highest
3 yrs newer than ME
1966Lowest
11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
about the ME average
21 minLowest
13% below ME
34 minHighest
37% above ME
Work from home
7.1%±3.7
ME: 15.9%
4.8%±5.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
7.5%±8.4Highest
ME: 15.9%
Temple and Chesterville 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 73 —
High school 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.