Compare towns

Jackson vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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.

MeasureJacksonHancockBrooks
People
Population
567Lowest
2,518Highest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+3%
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.7±5.8Lowest
16% below ME
56.3±6.4Highest
26% above ME
45.9±6.6
about the ME average
Hancock and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
13.9%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2Highest
ME: 18.1%
Age 65+
17.5%±4.7
ME: 22.4%
30.2%±7Highest
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
34.9%
ME: 36.2%
27.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.1
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Hancock 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
$72,285±$5k
3% below ME
$59,130±$10kLowest
21% below ME
Jackson and Hancock 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
$276,800±$51kHighest
7% below ME
$196,700±$33kLowest
34% below ME
Hancock 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
$1,171±$65Highest
about the ME average
$1,116±$112
about the ME average
Hancock and Brooks 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
$1,869Lowest
38% below ME
$2,096
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
42%±15.5Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3
ME: 48.4%
Hancock 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%
8.2%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
ME: 74.3%
81.1%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1987
10 yrs newer than ME
1986Lowest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
29 min
18% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
15.3%±6.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
5.1%±4.2Lowest
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 — #117 of 133 in ME —
School district — Hancock Public Schools RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.