Compare towns
Jay vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
6,758Highest |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
37.8±4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$61,635±$10kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Meredith 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 49% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$214,000±$40k 36% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,088±$73 23% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 28% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,194Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.