Compare towns
Jackson vs Palmyra vs Unity 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%).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Palmyra | Unity | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
2,209Highest |
1,858 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.1±4.8 17% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Jackson and Brooks 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% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$60,543±$17k 19% below ME |
$62,857±$6k 16% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Jackson and Unity 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 |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Jackson and Unity 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 |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Palmyra and Unity 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% |
9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
17.3% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
74.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Unity 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 · Ecology Learning Center | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.4 |
— |
| 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.