Compare towns
Waldo vs Industry vs Appleton 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 most people working from home (15.6%).
Industry has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Belfast has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
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 | Industry | Appleton | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926Lowest |
988 |
1,360 |
6,986Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-15.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
40.6±10.7 9% below ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
24.4%±6.3Highest ME: 18.1% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Industry 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% |
22.3%±6.6 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Belfast and Appleton 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% |
34.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
2%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Appleton and Industry 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 |
$63,056±$19k 16% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$67,679±$9k 9% below ME |
| Waldo and Belfast 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 |
$205,600±$31kLowest 31% below ME |
$235,600±$33k 21% below ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$1,049±$137 8% below ME |
$1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$962±$92Lowest 16% below ME |
| Waldo and Appleton 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 |
$1,793 41% below ME |
$3,588 18% above ME |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
65.9%±38.2 ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton and Waldo 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% |
6.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
86%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974 3 yrs older than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Belfast 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 | — | — | — | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.