What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

Waldoboro has the most kids (15.6% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jackson	Waldoboro
People
Population	897Lowest	5,253Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S.	50.1±4.6Lowest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jackson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jackson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S.	$69,107±$8kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Jackson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S.	$274,900±$39kLowest 17% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S.	$348±$153Lowest 75% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,001Highest 92% above U.S.	$2,861Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.1%±59.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	20%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Waldoboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.	25 minHighest 4% below U.S.
Work from home	22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#55 of 133 in ME
School district	Jackson School District	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	None in town	Medomak Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.