Compare towns
Jefferson vs Buckfield vs Sebago
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most kids (28% under 18).
Buckfield has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Sebago has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Jefferson | Buckfield | Sebago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
2,403 |
2,073Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% ME: +2.6% |
-1.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
40.7±3.9Highest 9% below ME |
| Sebago and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
25.7%±7.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.7%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$77,917±$41kLowest 4% above ME |
$78,438±$15k 5% above ME |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$227,700±$18kLowest 23% below ME |
$298,000±$46k about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Sebago are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130 about the ME average |
$521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$1,533±$292Highest 35% above ME |
| Sebago and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587 15% below ME |
$2,860Highest 6% below ME |
$2,543Lowest 16% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
53.3%±30.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Sebago and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
5.8% ME: 10.7% |
13.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1975Lowest 2 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 25% above ME |
37 minHighest 52% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
17.7%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Sebago and Buckfield 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Jefferson Public Schools | RSU 10 | Sebago Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| 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.