Compare towns
Jackson vs Industry vs Alna
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%).
Industry has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Alna has the most expensive homes ($367k 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Industry | Alna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
988Highest |
818 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME |
| Alna and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3 ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Alna and Industry 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% |
22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry 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%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Industry and Alna 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 |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
| Alna 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 |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$1,088±$176Highest 4% below ME |
| Alna and Industry 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 |
$1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Alna 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% |
6.9% ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 41% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
35 minLowest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.