Compare towns

Jackson vs Phillips 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%).
Phillips has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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.

MeasureJacksonPhillipsWaldo
People
Population
567Lowest
1,094Highest
926
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-12.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+4.3%
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.7±5.8
16% below ME
49.7±3.7Highest
11% above ME
37.5±9.6Lowest
16% below ME
Kids under 18
17.1%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
20.7%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.2%±4.5
ME: 18.1%
Phillips 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%
21.3%±2.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
12.2%±1.6Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Phillips and Jackson 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%
20.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
36.4%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
3.9%±2.6Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.8%±1
ME: 5.8%
Phillips 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
$45,385±$12kLowest
39% 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
$190,800±$18kLowest
36% 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
$483±$377Lowest
58% 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
$2,651Highest
13% below ME
$2,582
15% below ME
$1,623Lowest
47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
40.4%±33
ME: 48.4%
74.1%±36.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Waldo and Phillips 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%
17.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
10.4%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.3%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
1974Lowest
3 yrs older than ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
41% above ME
23 min
8% below ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
Work from home
15.3%±6.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
16.8%±7Highest
ME: 15.9%
15.6%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
Phillips and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 58/MSAD 58 Waldo-Region 7
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.