Compare towns
Waldo vs Mapleton vs Standish 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%).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Standish has the highest household income ($105k).
Belfast has the oldest population (median age 60.6).
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 | Mapleton | Standish | Belfast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,884 |
10,662Highest |
6,986 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+3.7% ME: +2.6% |
+4% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.5±2.8 10% below ME |
60.6±3.1Highest 35% above ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±3.1 ME: 18.1% |
14.2%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
15.2%±2.3 ME: 22.4% |
39.1%±5.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
36% ME: 36.2% |
42.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
11.6%±1.7Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.1%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$104,593±$15kHighest 40% above ME |
$67,679±$9kLowest 9% below ME |
| Standish and Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$336,000±$18k 13% above ME |
$340,900±$34kHighest 15% above ME |
| Belfast and Standish 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 |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$983±$453 14% below ME |
$962±$92 16% below ME |
| Waldo and Standish 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 |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$3,005 about the ME average |
$4,145Highest 37% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
57.4%±22.3 ME: 48.4% |
47.4%±14.4 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Standish 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
7.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
16%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
68.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1967Lowest 10 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
29 minHighest 20% above ME |
22 min 13% below ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
13.6%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
12%±6 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Standish 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 | — | — | #18 of 133 in ME | #84 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Belfast Area High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.