Compare towns
Jackson vs Mount Chase vs Patten 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 the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Mount Chase has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Mount Chase | Patten | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
280Lowest |
1,154Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
49.9±10.9 11% above ME |
57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Patten and Mount Chase 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% |
22.1%±10.6 ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mount Chase 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% |
28.9%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±5.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe and Mount Chase 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 |
$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$51,484±$6k 31% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above 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 |
$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME |
$127,600±$49k 57% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% 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±$12 45% below ME |
$1,281±$1kHighest 12% above ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
| Mount Chase and Monroe 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 |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Patten and Monroe 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% |
30.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.2% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 minLowest 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±12.8 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Mount Chase are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school 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.