Compare towns
Knox vs Jackson vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Knox has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($232k median).
Columbia has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Knox | Jackson | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 825Highest |
567 |
529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9 8% below ME |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
41.9±6.4Highest 6% below ME |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
24.2%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Columbia and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Columbia and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
9.1%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$9k 13% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$56,667±$15kLowest 24% below ME |
| Jackson and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,600±$26k 46% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$158,700±$19kLowest 46% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$894±$162 22% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610 47% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,226Lowest 60% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.9%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Columbia and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
81.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 22% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
9%±5.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.