Compare towns

Brooks vs Warren 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).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($233k 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.

MeasureBrooksWarrenWaldo
People
Population
1,208
4,932Highest
926Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+2.4%
ME: +2.6%
+4.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
45.9±6.6Highest
about the ME average
42.2±2.2
6% below ME
37.5±9.6Lowest
16% 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%
13.9%±5.1Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.2%±4.5Highest
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%±3.2Lowest
ME: 22.4%
12.2%±1.6
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%
ME: 36.2%
21.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
36.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.8%±3.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±1.9
ME: 5.8%
1.8%±1Lowest
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
$74,616±$21kHighest
about the ME average
$71,458±$21k
4% below ME
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
$232,700±$32kHighest
22% below ME
$208,000±$41k
30% 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
$1,125±$456
about the ME average
$1,150±$691Highest
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
$2,832Highest
7% below ME
$1,623Lowest
47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
18%±17.3Lowest
ME: 48.4%
52.1%±29.8
ME: 48.4%
74.1%±36.3Highest
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%
6%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.4%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
81.3%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
9 yrs newer than ME
1981Lowest
4 yrs newer than ME
1988Highest
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
about the ME average
23 min
8% below ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
Work from home
14.5%±2.9
ME: 15.9%
11.6%±9.3Lowest
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
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #120 of 133 in ME —
School district RSU 03/MSAD 03 RSU 40/MSAD 40 Waldo-Region 7
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.