Compare towns
Jackson vs Lagrange vs Brooks vs Thorndike
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%).
Lagrange has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Lagrange | Brooks | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
709 |
1,208 |
1,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.3% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
45.9±13.8Highest about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.7%±11.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Lagrange 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% |
18.2%±6.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Lagrange 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Lagrange 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 |
$58,417±$14kLowest 22% below ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
| Thorndike 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 |
$126,000±$33kLowest 58% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
| Jackson and Thorndike 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 |
$831±$151 27% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Brooks and Thorndike 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 |
$869Lowest 71% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
66.7%±56.2Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Lagrange and Thorndike 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% |
18.4% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
36 min 45% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
8.1%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.