Compare towns

Waldo vs Kennebunk 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Kennebunk has the most expensive homes ($488k 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.

MeasureWaldoKennebunkJackson
People
Population
926
11,820Highest
567Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.3%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+6.8%
ME: +2.6%
+11.3%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
37.5±9.6Lowest
16% below ME
54.6±3.3Highest
22% above ME
37.7±5.8
16% below ME
Kids under 18
20.2%±4.5Highest
ME: 18.1%
17.7%±3
ME: 18.1%
17.1%±4.3Lowest
ME: 18.1%
Waldo and Kennebunk 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%
30%±4Highest
ME: 22.4%
17.5%±4.7
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
51.2%Highest
ME: 36.2%
41.9%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1
ME: 5.8%
2.7%±1.4Highest
ME: 5.8%
1.4%±1.3Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Kennebunk 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±$21kLowest
4% below ME
$107,804±$8kHighest
44% above ME
$75,167±$19k
about the ME average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$208,000±$41kLowest
30% below ME
$487,700±$21kHighest
64% above ME
$231,500±$16k
22% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$691
about the ME average
$1,425±$290Highest
25% above ME
$629±$12Lowest
45% below ME
Kennebunk 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
$4,999Highest
65% above ME
$2,651
13% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.1%±36.3Highest
ME: 48.4%
37.1%±10.9
ME: 48.4%
6.3%±60.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
Waldo and Kennebunk 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%
7.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
13.8%Highest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.6%Highest
ME: 74.3%
80.6%
ME: 74.3%
78.6%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
11 yrs newer than ME
1983Lowest
6 yrs newer than ME
1993Highest
16 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
20% below ME
27 min
9% above ME
35 minHighest
41% above ME
Work from home
15.6%±4.2
ME: 15.9%
32.5%±7.6Highest
ME: 15.9%
15.3%±6.5Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #9 of 133 in ME —
School district Waldo-Region 7 RSU 21 —
High school in town None in town Kennebunk High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.6
—
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.