Compare towns
Jackson vs Bath 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%).
Bath has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% 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 | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
8,815Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+3% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
45.4±3Highest about the ME average |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Bath and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bath 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% ME: 36.2% |
42.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.5%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$69,390±$12kLowest 7% 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$310,900±$30kHighest 5% above ME |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,044±$116Highest 8% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Bath 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 |
$3,847Highest 27% above ME |
$2,537Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
51.3%±15.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Bath 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% |
12.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
64.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1938Lowest 39 yrs older than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
24 minLowest about the ME average |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
19.3%±6 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Bath 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 |
| High school in town | — | Morse High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.