Compare towns
Jackson vs Mount Chase vs Patten 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 the most expensive homes ($232k median).
Mount Chase has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).
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 | Mount Chase | Patten | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567 |
280Lowest |
1,154Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
49.9±10.9 11% above ME |
57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Patten and Mount Chase 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% |
22.1%±10.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mount Chase 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% |
28.9%±6.3 ME: 22.4% |
38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.1% ME: 36.2% |
25.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.9%±5.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Mount Chase and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$41,711±$7kLowest 44% below ME |
$51,484±$6k 31% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$115,700±$15kLowest 61% below ME |
$127,600±$49k 57% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$1,281±$1kHighest 12% above ME |
$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Mount Chase and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
$1,199Lowest 61% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
28.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
56%±64.1 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
30.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.2% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.5% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
22.2%±12.8 ME: 15.9% |
28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Patten and Mount Chase 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 | 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.