Compare towns
Jackson vs Unity vs Waldo vs Thorndike
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Thorndike has the most people working from home (44.7%).
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 | Waldo | Thorndike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,375 |
926 |
1,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 3% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6 4% below U.S. |
19.3±23.6Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
49.8%±28.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thorndike 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waldo and Thorndike 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 7% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,438±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Unity and Thorndike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,500±$16k 30% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$208,000±$41k 37% below U.S. |
$205,600±$88kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Unity and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12Lowest 55% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
$836±$317 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,651 15% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$2,537 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36%±62.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.7%±35.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thorndike and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Unity School District | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Mt View High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.