Compare towns
Waldo vs Exeter vs Chapman
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 people working from home (15.6%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Exeter | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926 |
1,093Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
— |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
45.7±11.4 about the ME average |
| Exeter and Chapman 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% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Chapman and Exeter 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% |
15%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21kLowest 4% below ME |
$84,408±$12k 13% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
| Chapman and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kHighest 30% below ME |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$185,700±$22k 37% below ME |
| Waldo and Chapman 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 |
$995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
— |
| Waldo and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Exeter 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
93.1% ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982Lowest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
23 min 6% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | — | — |
| High school 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.