Compare towns
Jay vs Peru vs Oakland
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).
Peru has the oldest population (median age 48).
Oakland has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Peru | Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
1,501Lowest |
6,309Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
48±7.6Highest 7% above ME |
40.2±6.9 10% below ME |
| Peru and Oakland 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% |
20.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Peru 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% |
21.7%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Peru 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% |
21.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Highest 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 |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above 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±$27k 43% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
$236,000±$23kHighest 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141 33% below ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
$939±$74Highest 18% below ME |
| Oakland and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,439Highest 20% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7Highest 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%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
29 minHighest 18% above ME |
27 min 8% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1 ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Oakland 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 56 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | Messalonskee High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.2Highest |
| 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.