Compare towns

Mars Hill vs Industry vs Brooks

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Industry has the most homeowners (86%).
Brooks has the most people working from home (14.5%).

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.

MeasureMars HillIndustryBrooks
People
Population
1,398Highest
988Lowest
1,208
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.9%
ME: +2.6%
-15.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-6.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
43.4±3
3% below ME
40.6±10.7Lowest
9% below ME
45.9±6.6Highest
about the ME average
Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.7
ME: 18.1%
24.4%±6.3Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.2Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Industry and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±5.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
22.3%±6.6
ME: 22.4%
17%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Mars Hill and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
27.5%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±3.4
ME: 5.8%
2%±2.2Lowest
ME: 5.8%
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
Brooks and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,273±$9kHighest
13% below ME
$63,056±$19k
16% below ME
$59,130±$10kLowest
21% below ME
Mars Hill and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,600±$23kLowest
45% below ME
$205,600±$31kHighest
31% below ME
$196,700±$33k
34% below ME
Industry and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$488±$96Lowest
57% below ME
$1,049±$137
8% below ME
$1,116±$112Highest
about the ME average
Brooks and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,843
39% below ME
$1,793Lowest
41% below ME
$2,096Highest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.6%±7.1
ME: 48.4%
65.9%±38.2Highest
ME: 48.4%
18%±17.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Industry and Mars Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%
ME: 10.7%
6.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
19.1%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
86%Highest
ME: 74.3%
74.6%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
10 yrs older than ME
1974
3 yrs older than ME
1986Highest
9 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
14% below ME
41 minHighest
67% above ME
25 min
about the ME average
Work from home
6.9%±6.6Lowest
ME: 15.9%
7.1%±4.3
ME: 15.9%
14.5%±2.9Highest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
School district RSU 42/MSAD 42 — RSU 03/MSAD 03
High school in town Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.0
— —
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.