Compare towns
Jay vs Oakland vs Chesterville
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 most affordable homes ($169k median).
Oakland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Oakland | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
6,309Highest |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
40.2±6.9Highest 10% below ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Oakland 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% |
23.8%±5.2 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Oakland 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% |
18.2%±3.4 ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Oakland 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% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Oakland 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 6% below ME |
$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Oakland 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 |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Oakland and Chesterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$939±$74 18% below ME |
$1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$2,439Highest 20% below ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
27 minHighest 8% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Oakland and Chesterville 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 | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | Messalonskee High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
14.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.