Compare towns
Jackson vs Orland 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%).
Orland has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Orland | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,915Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
50.6±4.2Highest 13% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.8%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest 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% |
27.5%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.8%±4.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Orland 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 |
$69,348±$29kLowest 7% 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±$16k 22% below ME |
$277,100±$20kHighest 7% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,149±$177 about the ME average |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Orland 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 |
$2,089 31% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45%±23.8 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Orland 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% |
7.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%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 min 41% above ME |
40 minHighest 62% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
17%±11.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Orland 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 Our Story | 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.