Compare towns
Jackson vs Brewer vs Brooks
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%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Brewer | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
9,652Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
40.1±4.8 10% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Brewer 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% |
20.9%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Brewer 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% |
35% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.7%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Brewer and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$66,613±$9k 11% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Jackson and Brewer 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 |
$245,300±$21kHighest 17% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Brewer 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 |
$1,086±$54 5% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Brewer 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 |
$3,374Highest 11% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.7%±13.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
12.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
59.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
17 minLowest 31% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Brewer Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| 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.