Compare towns
Jackson vs Unity vs Hope 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%).
Unity has the youngest population (median age 27.5).
Hope has the most expensive homes ($373k median).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Unity | Hope | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,858Highest |
1,748 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5% ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
44.6±3.1Highest about the ME average |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
| Hope and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope 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% ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,167±$19k about the ME average |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Hope 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 |
$206,900±$28kLowest 30% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
| Hope and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 13% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Unity 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% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1991 14 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
21 min 14% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center | Hope Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | Ecology Learning Ctr | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.