Compare towns
Jackson vs Somerville vs Monroe 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%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Monroe has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Somerville | Monroe | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
837 |
1,001 |
1,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Monroe 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% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Monroe 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% |
13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Jackson 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% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Monroe 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±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$220,300±$57k 26% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Jackson and Monroe 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 |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$1,165±$152 about the ME average |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Monroe 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% |
17% ME: 10.7% |
11.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.8% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
32 min 28% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 12 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.