Compare towns

Jackson vs Calais vs Chatham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).

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.

MeasureJacksonCalaisChatham
People
Population
897
1,713Highest
430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
60.5±2.5Highest
56% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
48.3±8.6
24% above U.S.
Kids under 18
4.1%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±7.4
U.S.: 22%
Calais and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±10
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±3.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,986±$46kHighest
46% above U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
$66,042±$19kLowest
18% below U.S.
Jackson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$719,300±$109kHighest
116% above U.S.
$390,300±$36k
17% above U.S.
$362,900±$42kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,750±$1kHighest
24% above U.S.
$1,408±$392Lowest
about the U.S. average
—
Jackson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,001
92% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
$3,690Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
21.1%±59.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.3%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
22.2%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.3%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Calais and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Jackson School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.