Compare towns
Jackson vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($123k 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 | Springfield | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567 |
310Lowest |
926Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
52.4±7Highest 17% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
18.1%±5.6 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Springfield 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% |
21.6%±5.4Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
17.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
0.6%±3.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 |
$60,833±$23kLowest 19% 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 |
$122,500±$28kLowest 59% 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 |
— | $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 |
$1,067Lowest 65% below ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
— | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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% |
5.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
96.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
9.6%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school 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.