Compare towns
Jackson vs Whiting 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).
Whiting has the oldest population (median age 50).
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
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 | Whiting | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567 |
506Lowest |
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 |
50±5Highest 12% above ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.8%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Whiting 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% |
27.5%±6.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
34.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Whiting 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 |
$55,263±$2kLowest 26% 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 |
$214,200±$52k 28% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Jackson and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$12 45% below ME |
$600±$333Lowest 47% 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 |
$1,728 43% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Whiting 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
22 min 10% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | Whiting 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.