Compare towns
Jay vs Hampton Falls vs Chesterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Chesterville has the most kids (31.3% 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 | Jay | Hampton Falls | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,328 |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 about the U.S. average |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
37.8±4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
31.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterville and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$61,635±$10kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$214,000±$40k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,088±$73 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 28% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,194Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Hampton Falls School District | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.