Compare towns
Jackson vs Mount Desert vs Wayne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Mount Desert has the most renters (15.2% rent).
Wayne has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Jackson | Mount Desert | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897Lowest |
1,671Highest |
1,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Lowest 41% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3 43% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mount Desert and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Mount Desert 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% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Mount Desert 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. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Wayne 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. |
$522,100±$66k 57% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89 5% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Mount Desert 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. |
$3,512 13% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mount Desert and Wayne 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | Mount Desert Public Schools | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None 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.