Compare towns
Jackson vs Monroe vs Sumner
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%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sumner has the most affordable homes ($150k 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 | Monroe | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,001Highest |
845 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
| Sumner and Monroe 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% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Sumner 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% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Sumner and Monroe 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% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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 |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
| Monroe 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 |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe 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 |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$2,167Lowest 29% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner 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% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
32 minLowest 28% above ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.