Compare towns
Perry vs Jackson vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Perry has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Mercer has the most expensive homes ($239k 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 | Perry | Jackson | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 744Highest |
567Lowest |
718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±11.4Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±6.2 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Mercer and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Perry and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,056±$4kHighest 10% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$71,107±$2kLowest 5% below ME |
| Perry and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$13kLowest 34% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$238,500±$32kHighest 20% below ME |
| Mercer and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,132Highest 3% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 13 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 6% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.4%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Perry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Perry Public Schools | — | — |
| 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.