Compare towns
Industry 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
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
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 | Industry | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 988Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7Highest 9% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Industry and Jackson 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Industry and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,056±$19kLowest 16% 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 | $205,600±$31kLowest 31% 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 | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Industry 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Industry 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 67% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3Lowest 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 Our Story | 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.