Compare towns
Brooks vs Waldo vs Warren
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).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
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 | Waldo | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,208 |
926Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
42.2±2.2 6% below ME |
| Brooks and Warren 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% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest 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%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Warren 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 21% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$74,616±$21kHighest about the ME average |
| Warren 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 |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$232,700±$32kHighest 22% below ME |
| Warren 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 about the ME average |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Waldo and Warren 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 |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,832Highest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Warren 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% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest about the ME average |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
23 min 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 | — | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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 |
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.