Compare towns
Jackson vs Perham vs Sorrento
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 most people working from home (15.3%).
Perham has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Sorrento has the most expensive homes ($299k 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 | Perham | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Highest |
326Lowest |
345 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
33.8±23.7Lowest 25% below ME |
| Perham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.6%±8.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±7.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Perham and Sorrento 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% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±10 ME: 22.4% |
| Perham and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
51%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±4.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Sorrento and Perham 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 |
$62,500±$22kLowest 16% below ME |
$83,438±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
| Sorrento and Jackson 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 |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$298,800±$38kHighest about the ME average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $1,696±$433Highest 49% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,929 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
4.8%±91.7Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Perham and Jackson 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.4%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Sorrento are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.

