Compare towns
Jackson vs Mapleton vs Madison vs Liberty
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%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Madison has the most renters (61.1% rent).
Liberty has the most homeowners (84.1%).
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 | Mapleton | Madison | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,884 |
2,676Highest |
969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-3.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.9±12.3Highest about the ME average |
40.5±6.8 10% below ME |
| Madison and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.6%±5.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Liberty 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
22.9%±7.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.8%±2.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Madison and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
18.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
43.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.4%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Madison 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$61,698±$20kLowest 17% below ME |
$71,146±$15k 5% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,900±$59kLowest 45% below ME |
$229,600±$31k 23% below ME |
| Jackson and Liberty are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$850±$218Highest 25% below ME |
$559±$193Lowest 51% below ME |
| Madison and Jackson 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,740Lowest 43% below ME |
$2,434 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
22.5%±13.9 ME: 48.4% |
38.5%±42.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Liberty and Madison 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% |
8.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13% ME: 10.7% |
14.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
38.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1953Lowest 24 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
38 minHighest 56% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±14.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.4%±8.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Madison and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.