Compare towns
Starks vs Jay vs Norridgewock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Norridgewock has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Starks | Jay | Norridgewock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556 |
471Lowest |
3,288Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| Jay and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Starks and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±7.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Norridgewock and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norridgewock and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8k 21% below U.S. |
$74,792±$25kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$61,579±$19kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Jay and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$151,900±$52k 54% below U.S. |
| Jay and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
— | $1,063±$588 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,462 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±46.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norridgewock and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±13.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay and Norridgewock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #91 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | RSU 54/MSAD 54 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.