Compare towns
Jackson vs Alna vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Alna | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
818 |
926Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+0.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
40.7±10.5Highest 9% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±5.4 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Jackson and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
41.3% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Alna and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,088±$176 4% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
42.9%±70.4 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
16.4%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Alna 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 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.