Compare towns
Appleton vs Industry vs Jackson 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 the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 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.
| Measure | Appleton | Industry | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
988 |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Industry 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% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Industry 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 |
$63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% 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 | $3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,793 41% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest 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% ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% ME: 74.3% |
86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 23% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.