Compare towns
Jackson vs Orland vs Strong
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).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Orland | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,915Highest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
47.5±8.9 6% above ME |
| Orland and Strong 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% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Orland and Strong 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% |
31.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland and Strong 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 |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% 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 |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,149±$177Highest about the ME average |
$920±$276 19% below ME |
| Orland and Strong 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 |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Orland and Strong 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% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Strong and Orland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school 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.