Compare towns
Jackson vs Bath 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%).
Bath has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
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 | Bath | Brooks | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
8,815Highest |
1,208 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
45.4±3 about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Brooks and Bath 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% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest 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% |
25.2%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bath 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% ME: 36.2% |
42.5%Highest 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% |
5.5%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Bath 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 |
$69,390±$12k 7% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 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 |
$310,900±$30kHighest 5% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,044±$116 8% 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 |
$3,847Highest 27% 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% |
51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Bath 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% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Bath and Jackson 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 | — | #31 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 01 - LKRSU | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Morse High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— | — |
| 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.