Compare towns
Jackson vs Surry 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 renters (21.4% rent).
Surry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Surry | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,836Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
52.4±5.6Highest 17% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
16.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
30.9%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
38.1% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Surry 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 |
$74,508±$12k about the ME average |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Jackson and Surry 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 |
$296,300±$36kHighest about the ME average |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$969±$129 15% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Surry 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 |
$1,903 37% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.8%±59.5 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Surry 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%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.6%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 |
31 min 26% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
11.4%±5Lowest 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 | — | Surry Public Schools | 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.