Compare towns
Somerville vs Albion vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.5%).
Albion has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Somerville | Albion | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 837Lowest |
2,204Highest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
52.9±7.5Highest 18% above ME |
37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
| Albion and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
26.8%±4.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.7% ME: 36.2% |
23.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.2%±2.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Albion and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$15k 5% below ME |
$62,361±$23kLowest 17% below ME |
$71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
| Waldo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
$230,900±$31kHighest 22% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Albion and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
— | $1,150±$691Lowest about the ME average |
| Somerville and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,505Highest 17% below ME |
$1,987 35% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
46.2%±23.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 12 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% above ME |
34 minHighest 36% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.7%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
| Albion and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 12 | RSU 49/MSAD 49 | Waldo-Region 7 |
| 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 |
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.