Compare towns
Waldo vs Palermo vs Brooks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waldo has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Palermo has the most expensive homes ($260k median).
Brooks has the most renters (25.4% rent).
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 | Palermo | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,473Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+2.3% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1 3% below ME |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Brooks and Palermo 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% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Palermo 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% |
21.2%±2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Palermo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.7% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Palermo 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 |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Palermo 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 |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$196,700±$33kLowest 34% below ME |
| Palermo and Waldo 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 |
$1,235±$1kHighest 8% above ME |
$1,116±$112Lowest about the ME average |
| Palermo 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 |
$2,506Highest 17% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Palermo 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% |
4.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
31 minHighest 24% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Palermo and Waldo 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 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None 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.