Compare towns
Jackson vs Ogunquit vs Mars Hill 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Ogunquit | Mars Hill | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,379 |
1,398Highest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Mars Hill 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Monroe 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±$19k about the ME average |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$81,300±$7k 9% above ME |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
— | $488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,843Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Monroe and Mars Hill 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% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
| 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 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.