Compare towns
Jackson vs Appleton vs Brooks vs Sorrento
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sorrento has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | Jackson | Appleton | Brooks | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
1,360Highest |
1,208 |
345Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
33.8±23.7Lowest 25% below ME |
| 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% |
19.4%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Sorrento 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%±10 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51%Highest 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% |
2.9%±4.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Appleton 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 |
$83,438±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Sorrento 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±$33k 21% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$298,800±$38kHighest about the ME average |
| Sorrento and Appleton 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 |
$1,696±$433Highest 49% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$1,929Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
4.8%±91.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Brooks 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% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 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 |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
9.4%±6.5Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.