Compare towns
Embden vs Waldo vs Anson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Embden has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k 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 | Embden | Waldo | Anson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 995 |
926Lowest |
2,331Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Anson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.2% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Anson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$23k 24% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
| Waldo and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,400±$59k 42% below ME |
$208,000±$41kHighest 30% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
| Waldo and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
| Waldo and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,804Highest 41% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
8.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 34% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Embden and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Carrabec High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
| 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.