Compare towns
Jefferson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($312k median).
Waldo has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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 | Jefferson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,647Highest |
926Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 38.1±4.9Highest 15% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Jefferson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Jefferson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jefferson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,078±$17kHighest 14% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
| Jefferson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$35kHighest 5% above ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$130Lowest about the ME average |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,587Highest 15% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 23% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.9%±3.6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jefferson 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 | #45 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Jefferson 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 |
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.