Compare towns
Thorndike vs Limestone vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Thorndike | Limestone | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,403 |
1,579Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 19.3±23.6Lowest 57% below ME |
45.3±4.9Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Limestone and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 49.8%±28.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.7%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Thorndike and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.2% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$14kHighest 5% above ME |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$88k 31% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
| Jackson and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $836±$317Highest 27% below ME |
$754±$233 34% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Thorndike and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,537 16% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36%±62.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Thorndike and Limestone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 46% above ME |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 44.7%±35.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Thorndike and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Mt View High School | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.