Compare towns
Somerville vs Jackson vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Somerville | Jackson | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837 |
567Lowest |
1,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
48.2±6.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washington and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
21.3%±4.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washington and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Washington and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$59,861±$17kLowest 20% below ME |
| Jackson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$195,200±$36kLowest 34% below ME |
| Jackson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,036±$322 9% below ME |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505 17% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,286Lowest 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
55.3%±62.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Somerville and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
15.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.6%±5.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Jackson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None 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.