Compare towns
Waldo vs Hampton Beach vs Belfast
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldo has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
2,605 |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
60.4±2.4 55% above U.S. |
60.6±3.1Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Belfast and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Waldo and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.1%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Belfast and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waldo and Belfast are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 11% below U.S. |
$82,557±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,679±$9kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$340,900±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$962±$92Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton Beach and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,145 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±14.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | — | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.