Compare towns
Waldo vs Gorham vs Brooks vs Jackson
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Brooks has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Gorham | Brooks | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926 |
18,300Highest |
1,208 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Brooks and Gorham 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41k 30% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Gorham 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 |
$4,825Highest 59% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Gorham 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
78.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Gorham 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 | — | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.