What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

Vinalhaven has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	Vinalhaven
People
Population	567Lowest	1,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6%	+9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME	65.1±3.9Highest 45% above ME
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Highest ME: 18.1%	11.2%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Jackson and Vinalhaven 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%	50.4%±6.4Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest ME: 36.2%	45.7%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%	3.4%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8%
	Vinalhaven and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average	$72,963±$11kLowest about the ME average
	Jackson and Vinalhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$231,500±$16kLowest 22% below ME	$428,400±$44kHighest 44% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME	$1,017±$924Highest 11% below ME
	Vinalhaven and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,651Lowest 13% below ME	$3,598Highest 19% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4%	53.6%±41.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Vinalhaven 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%	7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%	86.6%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 41% above ME	19 minLowest 24% below ME
Work from home	15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9%	19.3%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9%
	Vinalhaven and Jackson 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

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.