Compare towns
Jackson vs Dedham 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Dedham | Brooks | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,656Highest |
1,208 |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
46.5±2.2Highest 4% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Monroe 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Dedham 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% |
49.5%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% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Dedham and Monroe 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% 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% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer 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 |
30 min 22% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 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 | — | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.