Compare towns
Jackson vs Solon vs Brooks 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%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Solon | Brooks | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
963 |
1,208Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Solon 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% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% 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 |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% 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±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$915±$100 20% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 41% above ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 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 | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None 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.