Compare towns
Jackson vs Exeter vs Industry
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%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% 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 | Exeter | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,093Highest |
988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
| Exeter and Industry 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
23.9%±11.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Exeter and Industry 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Exeter and Industry 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 |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
| Exeter 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
| Jackson and Industry 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 |
$995±$386 13% below ME |
$1,049±$137Highest 8% below ME |
| Industry and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,793 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Exeter 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 41% above ME |
35 min 43% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.