Compare towns
Jay vs Thomaston 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).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Thomaston | Chesterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657Highest |
2,769 |
1,397Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
58.1±6.6Highest 30% above ME |
37.8±4Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
31.3%±6.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chesterville and Thomaston 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% |
35.5%±8.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
15%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
30.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
20.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.3%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Chesterville 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 |
$56,435±$13kLowest 24% below ME |
$61,635±$10k 18% below ME |
| Jay and Chesterville 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 |
$271,700±$10kHighest 8% below ME |
$214,000±$40k 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,262±$343Highest 11% above ME |
$1,088±$73 4% below ME |
| Thomaston and Chesterville 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 |
$4,487Highest 48% above ME |
$2,194Lowest 28% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
60.5%±23.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.8%±30.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Thomaston 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% |
6.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
12%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
73.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
14 minLowest 45% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
4.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Chesterville 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 | #99 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 73 | RSU 13 | — |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.