Compare towns
Jackson vs Anson 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%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Anson | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,331Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
46.7±6.2Highest 4% above ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Anson 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% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Anson and Jackson 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% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Anson 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±$19k about the ME average |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Jackson and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$928±$62Highest 19% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Anson and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Anson 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% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
79.3% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
33 minLowest 32% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Carrabec High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.