Compare towns
Industry vs Jackson vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Wayne | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 988 |
567Lowest |
1,101Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Wayne and Industry 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%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Wayne 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Wayne and Industry 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±$19k about the ME average |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Wayne and Jackson 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$983±$554 14% 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 |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$3,289Highest 8% above 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% |
25%±52.1 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% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 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 |
30 min 24% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 38 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.