Compare towns
Temple vs Jefferson vs Cambridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Temple has the most kids (32.8% under 18).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Cambridge has the oldest population (median age 38.7).
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 | Temple | Jefferson | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 824 |
2,647Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 34±14Lowest 24% below ME |
38.1±4.9 15% below ME |
38.7±1.1Highest 14% below ME |
| Cambridge and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 32.8%±7.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
28%±5.7 ME: 18.1% |
19.2%±8.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Temple and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±6.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.6%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Jefferson and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,087±$2kLowest 25% below ME |
$85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$63,194±$39k 15% below ME |
| Jefferson and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,200±$79kLowest 29% below ME |
$311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$214,900±$61k 28% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$565Highest 28% above ME |
$1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
— |
| Temple and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,367 22% below ME |
$2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,574Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.3%±70.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
29.8%±25.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Temple and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% ME: 10.7% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
14.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 37% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
41 minHighest 65% above ME |
| Work from home | 7.5%±8.4 ME: 15.9% |
8.9%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
1.7%±1.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Jefferson and Temple 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 | — | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Jefferson 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.