Compare towns
Brooks vs Madison vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k 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 | Madison | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
2,680Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Madison and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Madison 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brooks and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,130±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Madison and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,096 33% below U.S. |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Madison School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.