Compare towns

Wade vs Jackson vs Perham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wade has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
Jackson has the most people working from home (15.3%).
Perham has the shortest commute (25 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.

MeasureWadeJacksonPerham
People
Population
244Lowest
567Highest
326
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+11.3%
ME: +2.6%
—
Median age
53.6±18.5Highest
20% above ME
37.7±5.8Lowest
16% below ME
53±12.9
18% above ME
Wade and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±6.7Lowest
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.3
ME: 18.1%
19.6%±8.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
Perham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.8%±10.8Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±4.7Lowest
ME: 22.4%
24.5%±2.3
ME: 22.4%
Wade and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.2%
ME: 36.2%
41.9%Highest
ME: 36.2%
18.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.4%±4.6Lowest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.3
ME: 5.8%
2.5%±1.9Highest
ME: 5.8%
Perham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$41,818±$25kLowest
44% below ME
$75,167±$19kHighest
about the ME average
$62,500±$22k
16% below ME
Jackson and Perham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$157,100±$109k
47% below ME
$231,500±$16kHighest
22% below ME
$117,600±$9kLowest
60% below ME
Jackson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$629±$12
45% below ME
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,655
45% below ME
$2,651Highest
13% below ME
$1,641Lowest
46% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
ME: 48.4%
6.3%±60.5
ME: 48.4%
33.3%±100Highest
ME: 48.4%
Perham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
ME: 10.7%
13.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
2.5%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.3%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
78.6%
ME: 74.3%
92.5%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
26 yrs older than ME
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1976
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
37% above ME
35 minHighest
41% above ME
25 minLowest
about the ME average
Work from home
10.1%±6.8
ME: 15.9%
15.3%±6.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.4%±7.2Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Jackson and Wade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.