Compare towns
Appleton vs Belfast vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% 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 | Appleton | Belfast | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360 |
6,986Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% 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 | $3,588 18% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Lowest 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 | 9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Belfast 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | Belfast Area High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.