Compare towns
Waldo vs Cushing 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 affordable homes ($208k median).
Cushing has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Cushing | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,460 |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-2.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
48.8±7.7 9% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Cushing 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% |
20.5%±0.9 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
38.4% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cushing 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 |
$83,500±$19kHighest 12% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
| Cushing 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 |
$409,800±$44kHighest 38% above ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
| Cushing and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,553±$376Highest 36% above ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
| Cushing and Waldo 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 |
$3,944 30% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.7%±19.6Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Belfast 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% |
7.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
23 minHighest 5% below ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±6.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Cushing 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 | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 13 | 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 |
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.