Compare towns
Jackson vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,657Highest |
988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
40.6±10.7Highest 9% below ME |
| Industry and Jay 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% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Jay 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% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay 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±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$70,238±$19k 6% below ME |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
| Jackson and Jay 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% 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 |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$1,049±$137Highest 8% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$1,793Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Industry and Jay 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 13% below ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Industry 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.