Compare towns
Knox vs Wade vs Brooks
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 youngest population (median age 41.1).
Wade has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Brooks has the most expensive homes ($197k median).
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 | Wade | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 825 |
244Lowest |
1,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±7.9Lowest 8% below ME |
53.6±18.5Highest 20% above ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Wade and Brooks 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% |
16.4%±6.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Brooks and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
34.8%±10.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.6 ME: 5.8% |
0.4%±4.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks 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±$9kHighest 13% below ME |
$41,818±$25kLowest 44% below ME |
$59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
| Knox and Brooks 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 |
$157,100±$109kLowest 47% below ME |
$196,700±$33kHighest 34% below ME |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$47Highest 21% above ME |
— | $1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,610Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,655 45% below ME |
$2,096Highest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.3%±31.5 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% ME: 10.7% |
4.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.3% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1951Lowest 26 yrs older than ME |
1986Highest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 22% above ME |
34 minHighest 37% above ME |
25 minLowest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.1%±6.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Brooks and Knox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.