What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	Oakland
People
Population	567Lowest	6,309Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME
	Oakland and Jackson 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%	23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1%
	Oakland and Jackson 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%	18.2%±3.4Highest ME: 22.4%
	Oakland 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%	24.4%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,167±$19kLowest about the ME average	$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME
	Oakland 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±$16kLowest 22% below ME	$236,000±$23kHighest 20% 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±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$939±$74Highest 18% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Highest 13% below ME	$2,439Lowest 20% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4%
	Oakland and Jackson 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%	8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	27 minLowest 8% above ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Jackson and Oakland 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 18
High school in town	—	Messalonskee High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.