Compare towns
Jackson vs Sidney 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%).
Sidney has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Sidney | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
4,790Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+10.4% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
43±5.5Highest 4% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Sidney and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.1%±5.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Sidney 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% |
33.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.5%±1.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waldo and Sidney 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 |
$83,488±$10kHighest 12% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Sidney 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 |
$336,200±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,340±$304Highest 18% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Sidney 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 |
$2,474 19% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.4%±17.5 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
89.4%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 16 yrs newer than ME |
1996Highest 19 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #15 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | 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.