Compare towns
Jackson vs Alna vs Thorndike
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Jackson | Alna | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
818 |
1,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jackson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Alna and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
| Alna and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Alna and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$2,537Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 41% above ME |
35 minLowest 41% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.