Compare towns
Jackson vs Mars Hill vs Ogunquit vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mars Hill has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Mars Hill | Ogunquit | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,398Highest |
1,379 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.9%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+76.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
43.4±3 3% below ME |
62.8±4.8Highest 40% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mars Hill 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% |
24.5%±5.8 ME: 22.4% |
43.6%±10.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
63.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.8%±3.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
4.2%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mars Hill and Ogunquit 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 |
$65,273±$9kLowest 13% below ME |
$114,259±$56kHighest 53% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Ogunquit 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 |
$163,600±$23kLowest 45% below ME |
$875,700±$79kHighest 195% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$488±$96Lowest 57% below ME |
— | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 |
$1,843 39% below ME |
$4,473Highest 47% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5 ME: 48.4% |
30.6%±7.1 ME: 48.4% |
0%±61.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.6% ME: 10.7% |
3.2%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
70.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
6.9%±6.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
43.3%±12.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 42/MSAD 42 | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | Central Aroostook Jr-Sr H S | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— | — |
| 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.