Compare towns
Brooks vs Appleton 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
Brooks has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Brooks | Appleton | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,360Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10k 21% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% 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 | $196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% 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 | $1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 31% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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 | 19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Appleton 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.