Compare towns
Waldo vs Appleton vs China
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
China has the highest household income ($96k).
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 | Waldo | Appleton | China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,360 |
4,526Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+1.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4Highest 10% above ME |
40.9±5.9 9% below ME |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.4%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| China and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±4.4 ME: 22.4% |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
31.9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.6 ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and China are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$96,309±$12kHighest 29% above ME |
| China and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$240,000±$37kHighest 19% below ME |
| China and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82Lowest 3% below ME |
— |
| Waldo and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,535 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
10.6%±25.1Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
6%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 minHighest 23% above ME |
30 min 21% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12.6%±4.6 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and China 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 | — | — | #27 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 18 |
| 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.