Compare towns
Brooks vs Limestone 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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Limestone has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Limestone | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
1,579Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% ME: +2.6% |
-34.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
45.3±4.9 about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Brooks and Limestone 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% |
20.7%±4.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Limestone 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% |
21.7%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Limestone and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
20.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
9.5%±4.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Limestone and Brooks 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 |
$49,938±$8kLowest 33% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
$98,400±$18kLowest 67% below ME |
$208,000±$41kHighest 30% below ME |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 |
$754±$233Lowest 34% 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 | $2,096Highest 31% below ME |
$1,332Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
32%±12.4 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Limestone 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% |
16.4% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% ME: 74.3% |
61.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1959Lowest 18 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
19 minLowest 24% below ME |
20 min 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±5.2Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics · Limestone Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | ME Sch of Science & Mathematics | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.