Compare towns
Brooks vs Sandgate vs Monroe 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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Monroe has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Sandgate | Monroe | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Highest |
435Lowest |
1,001 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6 18% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.5±7 12% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Sandgate 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Monroe 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% |
37.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±4.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$81,300±$7kHighest about the U.S. average |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| 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±$33k 41% below U.S. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$220,300±$57kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| 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±$112Lowest 21% below U.S. |
— | $1,165±$152Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| 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 33% below U.S. |
$2,778Highest 11% below U.S. |
$2,207 29% below U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±47.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | 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 |
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.