Compare towns
Jackson vs Mars Hill vs Brooks
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%).
Mars Hill has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Mars Hill | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,398Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Mars Hill 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% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill and Jackson 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% |
24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Mars Hill 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% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$65,273±$9k 13% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Jackson and Mars Hill 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Jackson and Brooks 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 |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Mars Hill and Brooks 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% |
9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.