Compare towns
Jackson vs Wade vs Mapleton 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 the most expensive homes ($232k median).
Wade has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Wade | Mapleton | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
244Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Wade 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% |
16.4%±6.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
33.2% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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 |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Mapleton 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 |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Jackson and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
— | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,116±$112Highest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,655Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brooks and Mapleton 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% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
34 min 37% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 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 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | 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.