Compare towns
Jackson vs Thorndike vs Wayne 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%).
Thorndike has the most kids (49.8% under 18).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Brooks has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Thorndike | Wayne | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,403Highest |
1,101 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Wayne and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike 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% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Wayne 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 |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Wayne and Thorndike 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 |
$205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$836±$317 27% below ME |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$2,096Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Wayne 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% |
6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
30 min 24% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7 ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 38 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | Mt View High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.