Compare towns
Jay vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Highest 12% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Highest 33% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Lowest 26% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Jay 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | 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.