Compare towns
Mapleton vs Saco vs Waldo vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Waldo has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Saco | Waldo | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
20,819Highest |
926Lowest |
1,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+10.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-9.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% below ME |
44.9±1.5 about the ME average |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
48.2±7.7Highest 8% above ME |
| Washburn and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
21.7%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
24%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Washburn and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% ME: 36.2% |
43.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
26%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±1.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$92,241±$11kHighest 23% above ME |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$56,196±$6kLowest 25% below ME |
| Saco and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$413,100±$17kHighest 39% above ME |
$208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$112,900±$14kLowest 62% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,249±$385Highest 10% above ME |
$1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$482±$62Lowest 58% below ME |
| Saco and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 41% below ME |
$4,807Highest 58% above ME |
$1,623 47% below ME |
$1,571Lowest 48% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
50.3%±14 ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±24.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
12.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 same as ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% above ME |
24 min 3% below ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
21 min 15% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Saco and Waldo 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Saco Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.