Compare towns
Danforth vs Jackson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Danforth | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
567Lowest |
926Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waldo and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 15% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school 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.