Compare towns
Jackson vs Mapleton vs Mars Hill vs Sorrento
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Mars Hill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sorrento has the most expensive homes ($299k median).
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 | Mars Hill | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
1,884Highest |
1,398 |
345Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
43.4±3Highest 3% below ME |
33.8±23.7Lowest 25% below ME |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±10 ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill and Sorrento 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±4.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Mars Hill 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 |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$83,438±$10k 12% above ME |
| Mapleton and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$298,800±$38kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,696±$433Highest 49% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
4.8%±91.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Mars Hill and Mapleton 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.4%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Mapleton 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 42/MSAD 42 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.0 |
— |
| 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.