Compare towns
Waldo vs Jay vs Jackson
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 kids (20.2% under 18).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Jay | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926 |
4,657Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
-4.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
39.5±5.1Highest 12% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Jay and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.5%±5.4 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jay 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% |
19.3%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Jay and Jackson 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% |
29.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
4.5%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Jay and Waldo 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 |
$70,238±$19kLowest 6% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| 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±$41k 30% below ME |
$168,600±$27kLowest 43% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$759±$141 33% below ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Waldo and Jay 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 |
$2,245 26% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
27.2%±28.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Jay 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% |
9.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.7% ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
21 min 13% below ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±5.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 | — | #86 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Spruce Mountain High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.