Compare towns
Jackson vs Penobscot 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%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Penobscot | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,154 |
1,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-10.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
53.4±5.7Highest 19% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Penobscot and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18%±6Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Penobscot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
32%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.4% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$63,194±$14k 15% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Jackson and Penobscot 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 |
$296,400±$58kHighest about the ME average |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Penobscot 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 |
$1,141±$33Highest about the ME average |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Penobscot 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 |
$1,852Lowest 39% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
73.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Penobscot and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±13.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Penobscot and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.