Compare towns
Jackson vs Appleton vs Brooks vs Monroe
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%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Appleton | Brooks | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,208 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson 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 |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Brooks 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 |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.