Compare towns
Jay vs Waldo vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($233k median).
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 | Jay | Waldo | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,657 |
926Lowest |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 39.5±5.1 12% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
42.2±2.2Highest 6% below ME |
| Warren and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.9%±5.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6 ME: 22.4% |
12%±3.2Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.2 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Warren and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$74,616±$21kHighest about the ME average |
| Warren and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$232,700±$32kHighest 22% below ME |
| Warren and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $759±$141Lowest 33% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,125±$456 about the ME average |
| Waldo and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,245 26% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,832Highest 7% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±28.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
52.1%±29.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 13% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
23 minHighest 8% below ME |
| Work from home | 4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.6%±9.3 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Warren 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 | #86 of 133 in ME | — | #120 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 73 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Spruce Mountain High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.