Compare towns
Brooks vs Augusta vs Waldo vs Monroe
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Waldo has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Brooks | Augusta | Waldo | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
19,077Highest |
926Lowest |
1,001 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-1.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
42.5±2.4 5% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±7 about the ME average |
| Brooks and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±2.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
23.7%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Monroe and Waldo 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% |
21.5%±2.6 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22.6%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Monroe and Augusta 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% |
28.9% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
29.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.1 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±4.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Monroe 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 |
$47,979±$3kLowest 36% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$81,300±$7kHighest 9% above ME |
| Monroe 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 |
$201,000±$18k 32% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$220,300±$57kHighest 26% below ME |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$919±$79Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,165±$152Highest about the ME average |
| Monroe and Waldo 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 |
$2,465Highest 19% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,207 27% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
49.2%±8.3 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
50.9%±47.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Monroe 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% |
18.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
11.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
53.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
87.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1965Lowest 12 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
32 minHighest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.1%±3.7 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Augusta 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 | — | #119 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | Cony | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 17.9 |
— | — |
| 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.