Compare towns
Brooks vs Wilder vs Jackson 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 affordable homes ($197k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Jackson has the highest household income ($75k).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208 |
3,087Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±6.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
37.7±5.8 3% below U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brooks and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Brooks 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$10kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$75,167±$19kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,700±$33kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$231,500±$16k 30% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,116±$112 21% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S. |
$1,150±$691Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Waldo and Wilder 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. |
$5,505Highest 76% above U.S. |
$2,651 15% below U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.3%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.