Compare towns
Waldo vs Danforth vs East Machias
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
East Machias has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Danforth | East Machias |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926 |
666Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
53.1±4.4Highest 19% above ME |
42.8±2.9 4% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
23.3%±4.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| East Machias 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%±3.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±3.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Danforth and East Machias 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% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
33.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8% |
| East Machias 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±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME |
$57,589±$10k 23% below ME |
| Waldo and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$210,800±$23kHighest 29% below ME |
| East Machias and Waldo 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 |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
$907±$566 20% below ME |
| Waldo and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,623 47% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
$1,836Highest 40% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±40.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and East Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
15.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1987 10 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 20% below ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
18 minLowest 28% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
4.1%±3.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | — | East Machias Public Schools |
| 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.