Compare towns
West Paris vs Jackson vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Paris has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Strong has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | West Paris | Jackson | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,808Highest |
567Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 46±7.9 about the ME average |
37.7±5.8Lowest 16% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Strong and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1 ME: 22.4% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,324±$5k 25% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Jackson and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,000±$20k 35% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $838±$333 26% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$920±$276Highest 19% below ME |
| Strong and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,083 31% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±34.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4 ME: 48.4% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 24.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 4 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
31 minLowest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 23.8%±18.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
| West Paris and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 17/MSAD 17 | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| 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.