Compare towns
Waldo vs Appleton vs Jackson vs Belfast
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 most kids (20.2% under 18).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k 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 | Waldo | Appleton | Jackson | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926 |
1,360 |
567Lowest |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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 |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
| Jackson 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 |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$962±$92 16% 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 |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 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% ME: 10.7% |
9.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 | — | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Appleton Public Schools | — | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.