Compare towns
Waldo vs Hope vs Brooks
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 youngest population (median age 37.5).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Hope | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,748Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Hope 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Hope and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Hope 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 4% below ME |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Hope 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±$41k 30% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
| Hope 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
20 min 19% below ME |
25 minHighest about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.