Compare towns
Jefferson vs Thorndike vs Whitefield
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 expensive homes ($312k median).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Whitefield has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Jefferson | Thorndike | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
1,403Lowest |
2,157 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
51.9±5.2Highest 16% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.6%±4.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
29.1%±4.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6% ME: 36.2% |
25.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
32.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4%±2 ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 |
$78,438±$14k 5% above ME |
$73,875±$10kLowest about the ME average |
| Jefferson and Thorndike 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 |
$205,600±$88kLowest 31% below ME |
$242,300±$24k 18% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Highest about the ME average |
$836±$317Lowest 27% below ME |
$895±$126 21% below ME |
| Jefferson and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$2,537 16% below ME |
$2,366Lowest 22% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±22.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Whitefield 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% |
6.5% ME: 10.7% |
7.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.2% ME: 74.3% |
91.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
36 minHighest 46% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.5%±6.8 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Whitefield 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 03/MSAD 03 | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt View High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.