Compare towns
Mercer vs Brownfield vs Starks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Brownfield has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k 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 | Mercer | Brownfield | Starks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 718 |
1,830Highest |
556Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.1% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
39.9±6.8Lowest 11% below ME |
46.7±9.4Highest 4% above ME |
| Starks and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
26.7%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.3% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±0.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Starks and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,107±$2kHighest 5% below ME |
$60,889±$5kLowest 19% below ME |
$63,500±$8k 15% below ME |
| Mercer and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,500±$32k 20% below ME |
$287,500±$36kHighest 3% below ME |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
| Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$249 25% above ME |
$1,617±$554Highest 42% above ME |
$1,063±$301Lowest 7% below ME |
| Brownfield and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,970 35% below ME |
$2,976Highest about the ME average |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±74Lowest ME: 48.4% |
61.8%±43.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Brownfield and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% ME: 10.7% |
8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.7%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 23% above ME |
44 minHighest 80% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
| Work from home | 20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.5%±4.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Brownfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | — |
| 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.