Compare towns
Jackson vs Winterport 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%).
Winterport has the most expensive homes ($303k median).
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 | Winterport | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,057Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
38.2±19.8Highest 15% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Winterport 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% |
14.9%±8.5Lowest 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% |
22.5%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Winterport 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% |
45.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
7.3%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Winterport 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±$19k about the ME average |
$75,694±$70kHighest about the ME average |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Winterport 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 |
$302,800±$63kHighest about the ME average |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Winterport and Jackson 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 |
$1,865 39% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
26.8%±27.1 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Winterport 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% ME: 74.3% |
74.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older 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% |
9.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 133 in ME | — |
| 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.