Compare towns
Waldo vs Freedom vs Industry
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%).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% 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 | Freedom | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926 |
670Lowest |
988Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-1.1% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
40.1±2.7 10% below ME |
40.6±10.7Highest 9% below ME |
| Industry and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±4.8 ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry and Freedom 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% |
22.1%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
22.3%±6.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Industry and Freedom 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% |
23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Industry 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 |
$64,861±$12k 13% below ME |
$63,056±$19kLowest 16% below ME |
| Waldo and Freedom 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 |
$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME |
$205,600±$31k 31% below ME |
| Waldo and Industry 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 |
— | $1,049±$137Lowest 8% below ME |
| Waldo and Industry 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 |
$2,328Highest 23% below ME |
$1,793 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Industry 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% |
11.5%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
86% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
32 min 29% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±3.9 ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Freedom 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.