Compare towns
Alna vs Appleton vs Edgecomb vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Edgecomb has the highest household income ($109k).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Alna | Appleton | Edgecomb | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,251 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-4.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
41±8.8 8% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
24.5%±7.2 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
39.8% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
8%±6.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Edgecomb and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 25% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$108,750±$18kHighest 46% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Edgecomb and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$348,400±$36k 17% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Alna and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
— | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$3,577 18% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±43.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
5.6% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.3%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Alna and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Edgecomb Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.