Compare towns
Jackson vs Mapleton vs Oakland vs Monroe
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Oakland has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Monroe has the most homeowners (87.4%).
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 | Oakland | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,884 |
6,309Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
43.5±7Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe 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% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Monroe 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% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Mapleton 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% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$77,813±$16k 4% above ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Mapleton and Monroe 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±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Oakland and Jackson 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±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Oakland 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,439 20% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Monroe 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 | — | — | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 18 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Messalonskee High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.