Compare towns

Jackson vs Danforth 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%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).

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.

MeasureJacksonDanforthThorndike
People
Population
567Lowest
666
1,403Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.3%
ME: +2.6%
-13%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.7±5.8
16% below ME
53.1±4.4Highest
19% above ME
19.3±23.6Lowest
57% below ME
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
13.4%±4.3Lowest
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%
26.1%±3.7Highest
ME: 22.4%
11.7%±6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
9%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
25.2%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
1.7%±2Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.5%±1.4
ME: 5.8%
Danforth and Thorndike 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
$48,125±$8kLowest
36% 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±$16kHighest
22% below ME
$89,900±$36kLowest
70% below ME
$205,600±$88k
31% below ME
Jackson and Thorndike 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
$629±$29Lowest
45% below ME
$836±$317Highest
27% below ME
Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,651Highest
13% below ME
$1,270Lowest
58% below ME
$2,537
16% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
36.1%±57.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
36%±62.5
ME: 48.4%
Danforth and Thorndike 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%
13.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
6.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
81.6%
ME: 74.3%
87.2%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
1984Lowest
7 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
41% above ME
28 minLowest
15% above ME
36 minHighest
46% above ME
Work from home
15.3%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
5.8%±3.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
44.7%±35.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town — — Mt View High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
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.