Compare towns
Jackson vs Appleton vs Waldo vs Dixmont
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%).
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dixmont has the most people working from home (21.9%).
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 | Appleton | Waldo | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,360Highest |
926 |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
| Dixmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dixmont 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% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
24.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Dixmont and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$75,952±$14kHighest about the ME average |
| Dixmont 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 |
$235,600±$33kHighest 21% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$190,700±$22kLowest 36% below ME |
| Appleton and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont and Waldo 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 |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
$1,548Lowest 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 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 | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
35 min 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 19 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.