Compare towns
Industry vs Appleton vs Anson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Anson has the most affordable homes ($118k median).
Waldo has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Industry | Appleton | Anson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 988 |
1,360 |
2,331Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
46.7±6.2 4% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2.7 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Anson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19k 28% below ME |
$52,474±$21kLowest 30% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo and Industry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$117,800±$14kLowest 60% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$928±$62Lowest 19% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,793 41% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,572Lowest 48% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.6%±23.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
8.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1972Lowest 5 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
33 min 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
3%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Carrabec High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.