Compare towns
Jackson vs Jay vs Monroe vs Waldo
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 most affordable homes ($169k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Monroe | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,657Highest |
1,001 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Monroe 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% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Waldo 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% |
19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe 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% ME: 36.2% |
29.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Jay 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Monroe 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 |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe 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 |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Monroe 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.