What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.8%).

Mars Hill has the most people working from home (6.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Mars Hill
People
Population	4,657Highest	1,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME	43.4±3Highest 3% below ME
	Mars Hill 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 ME: 18.1%	22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1%
	Mars Hill and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4%	24.5%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4%
	Mars Hill 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%Highest ME: 36.2%	26%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.2Lowest ME: 5.8%	4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Mars Hill and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,238±$19kHighest 6% below ME	$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME
	Jay and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$168,600±$27kHighest 43% below ME	$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME
	Jay and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$759±$141Highest 33% below ME	$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,245Highest 26% below ME	$1,843Lowest 39% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4%	30.6%±7.1Highest ME: 48.4%
	Mars Hill and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.8%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest ME: 74.3%	70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME	1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 13% below ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	6.9%±6.6Highest ME: 15.9%
	Mars Hill 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	RSU 42/MSAD 42
High school in town	Spruce Mountain High School	Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	8.0Lowest
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.