Compare towns
Jay vs Perham 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Perham has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Perham | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
326Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— | -1.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
53±12.9Highest 18% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Perham 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% |
19.6%±8.5 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±2.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Perham 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% |
18.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
20.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Perham 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 |
$62,500±$22k 16% below ME |
$61,635±$10kLowest 18% below ME |
| Jay and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27k 43% below ME |
$117,600±$9kLowest 60% below ME |
$214,000±$40kHighest 28% below ME |
| Chesterville and Jay 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 |
— | $1,088±$73Highest 4% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245Highest 26% below ME |
$1,641Lowest 46% below ME |
$2,194 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Perham 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% |
2.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86.4% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
25 min about the ME average |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±7.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
| Perham 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 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.