Compare towns
Jay vs Stark 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Stark | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
419Lowest |
1,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 about the U.S. average |
58.8±3.6Highest 51% above U.S. |
37.8±4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stark 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
17.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jay and Stark 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. |
$71,750±$23kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$61,635±$10kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Stark 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. |
$197,700±$34k 41% below U.S. |
$214,000±$40kHighest 36% below U.S. |
| Chesterville and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 46% below U.S. |
— | $1,088±$73Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 28% below U.S. |
$2,636Highest 15% below U.S. |
$2,194Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stark 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stark 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 | Stark School District | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.