Compare towns
Fryeburg vs Jackson vs Waldoboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fryeburg has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Waldoboro has the most kids (15.6% 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 | Fryeburg | Jackson | Waldoboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,489 |
897Lowest |
5,253Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.4 37% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
50.1±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.9%±5 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waldoboro and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jackson and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,076±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$69,107±$8k 14% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,600±$30kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$274,900±$39k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $893±$85 37% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Fryeburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,928 6% below U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fryeburg and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Fryeburg 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 | #103 of 133 in ME | — | #55 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 72/MSAD 72 | Jackson School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Medomak Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.