Compare towns
Jackson vs Dedham vs Appleton 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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Jackson | Dedham | Appleton | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,656Highest |
1,360 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
46.5±2.2 4% above ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Appleton and Dedham 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% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Waldo 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% |
18.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
49.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Dedham 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 |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Dedham 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 |
$356,400±$33kHighest 20% above ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,422±$607Highest 25% above ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Dedham 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 |
$3,942Highest 30% above ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest 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 | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 22% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 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 | — | Dedham Public Schools | Appleton Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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.