Compare towns
Jackson vs Orland 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%).
Orland has the most expensive homes ($277k median).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Orland | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,915Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Orland and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Orland 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 |
$69,348±$29k 7% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Jackson and Orland 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 |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Orland and Brooks 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 |
$2,089Lowest 31% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Orland 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.