Compare towns
Jay vs Meredith vs Pittsfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Pittsfield has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
6,758Highest |
3,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40±6.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pittsfield and Jay 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittsfield 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±$19k 13% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$57,381±$12kLowest 29% 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±$27k 49% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$164,100±$17kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$825±$260 42% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Pittsfield 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. |
$1,965Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.5%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Meredith 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #86 of 133 in ME | #62 of 120 in NH | #125 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 53/MSAD 53 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.