Compare towns
Limerick vs Mapleton vs Waldo vs West Gardiner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Limerick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
West Gardiner has the most expensive homes ($305k 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 | Limerick | Mapleton | Waldo | West Gardiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,400 |
1,884 |
926Lowest |
3,696Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+5.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.4±9.2 10% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.5±2.8Highest about the ME average |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
17.3%±4.5 ME: 22.4% |
| Mapleton and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
32.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.1%±5.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
| West Gardiner and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,172±$15kHighest 35% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$96,172±$30k 29% above ME |
| Limerick and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,400±$29k 9% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$305,100±$42kHighest about the ME average |
| West Gardiner and Limerick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,758±$407Highest 54% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,087±$150 5% below ME |
| Limerick and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,520Highest 17% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,282 25% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±14.2 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
57.1%±9.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and West Gardiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 53% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
24 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.2%±6.7 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
13.8%±7.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Limerick 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 | — | — | — | #90 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.