Compare towns
Jackson vs Ellsworth vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering JacksonBartlett
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Ellsworth | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
8,657Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Ellsworth 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% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Ellsworth 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. |
$77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Ellsworth 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. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— |
| Jackson and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,690 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #63 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jackson School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellsworth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.