Compare towns

South Windham vs Mapleton vs Waldo

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Windham has the most people working from home (24.5%).
Mapleton has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).

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.

MeasureSouth WindhamMapletonWaldo
People
Population
1,212
1,884Highest
926Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-11.6%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%
ME: +2.6%
+4.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
36.5±13.2Lowest
19% below ME
41.8±6Highest
7% below ME
37.5±9.6
16% below ME
Mapleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
3.6%±4.8Lowest
ME: 18.1%
22.2%±5.1Highest
ME: 18.1%
20.2%±4.5
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+
7.3%±5.9Lowest
ME: 22.4%
18.3%±3.1Highest
ME: 22.4%
12.2%±1.6
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%
ME: 36.2%
34.3%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
36.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±5.5Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
1.8%±1Lowest
ME: 5.8%
South Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$133,223±$21kHighest
78% above ME
$91,731±$25k
23% above ME
$71,458±$21kLowest
4% below ME
South Windham and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$314,300±$81kHighest
6% above ME
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$208,000±$41k
30% below ME
South Windham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,824±$2kHighest
60% above ME
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,150±$691
about the ME average
South Windham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,941Highest
3% below ME
$1,789
41% below ME
$1,623Lowest
47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27.8Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5
ME: 48.4%
74.1%±36.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
Below poverty line
9.4%
ME: 10.7%
8.9%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
10.4%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
79.9%
ME: 74.3%
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
12 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
37% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
20 minLowest
20% below ME
Work from home
24.5%±15.8Highest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
15.6%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
South Windham and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Waldo-Region 7
High school 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.