Compare towns
Waldo vs Jackson vs Somerville
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Somerville has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Jackson | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Highest |
567Lowest |
837 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+9.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6 16% below ME |
37.7±5.8Highest 16% below ME |
33.5±11.3Lowest 25% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
28.8%±7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Somerville 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%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
13.7%±2.9 ME: 22.4% |
| Jackson and Somerville 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% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$71,250±$15kLowest 5% below ME |
| Jackson 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 30% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
$218,100±$41k 26% below ME |
| Jackson and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,583±$265Highest 39% above ME |
| Somerville 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 |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$2,505 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±58.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8% ME: 10.7% |
17%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
27 min 9% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
3.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | — | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.