Compare towns

Jackson vs Hope 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 the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
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.

MeasureJacksonHopeBrooks
People
Population
567Lowest
1,748Highest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.7±5.8Lowest
16% below ME
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
45.9±6.6Highest
about the ME average
Brooks and Hope 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%
23.3%±5.4Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Hope 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%
21.1%±1.3Highest
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Hope 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%
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Hope 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
$86,766±$6kHighest
16% above ME
$59,130±$10kLowest
21% below ME
Hope 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±$16k
22% below ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
$196,700±$33kLowest
34% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$629±$12Lowest
45% below ME
$1,219±$182Highest
7% above ME
$1,116±$112
about the ME average
Hope and Brooks 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
$3,842Highest
27% above ME
$2,096Lowest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3
ME: 48.4%
Hope 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%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
ME: 74.3%
92.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1991
14 yrs newer than ME
1986Lowest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
20 minLowest
19% below ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
15.3%±6.5
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Hope and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Hope 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.