Compare towns
Jay vs Starks vs Union
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).
Starks has the oldest population (median age 46.7).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Starks | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
556Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1Lowest 12% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
| Starks and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Union 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
| Union 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Starks 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 |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 13% below ME |
33 minHighest 33% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Jay 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.