Compare towns
Waldo vs Gorham vs Morrill 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Gorham has the highest household income ($112k).
Morrill has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Morrill | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926 |
18,300Highest |
914Lowest |
6,986 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+11.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.8% ME: +2.6% |
+4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
39.4±2.9 12% below ME |
39.8±6.1 11% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.8%±4.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Morrill and Gorham 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%±2.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.5%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
44.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.2%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
13.1%±1.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
2%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$112,312±$6kHighest 50% above ME |
$74,250±$18k about the ME average |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$460,900±$26kHighest 55% above ME |
$214,000±$18k 28% below ME |
$340,900±$34k 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,680±$355Highest 47% above ME |
$975±$891 14% below ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% 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 |
$2,472 19% below ME |
$4,145 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.9%±8.6 ME: 48.4% |
34.3%±45.5Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.3% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
81.5% ME: 74.3% |
89.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
27 min 10% above ME |
29 minHighest 16% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±3.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
5.9%±3.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 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 | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 71 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| 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.