Compare towns
Jackson vs Limestone vs Milo 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%).
Limestone has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($97k median).
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 | Limestone | Milo | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,579 |
2,165Highest |
1,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.8% ME: +2.6% |
-13% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
43.9±7 about the ME average |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
| Limestone and Milo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and Milo 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% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.8% ME: 36.2% |
25.2% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$56,875±$9k 24% 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 |
$98,400±$18k 67% below ME |
$97,100±$27kLowest 67% 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 |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$879±$400Highest 23% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
| Milo 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 |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,450 52% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Milo 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% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
67.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
42 minHighest 70% above ME |
36 min 46% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2 ME: 15.9% |
3.2%±2.1Lowest 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 | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | RSU 41/MSAD 41 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | Penquis Valley Middle/High School | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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.