Compare towns
Waldo vs Palermo 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).
Palermo has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Palermo | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926 |
1,473Highest |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% ME: +2.6% |
+2.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
43.4±6.1Highest 3% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Palermo 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% |
18.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Palermo 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% |
31.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.2%±2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Palermo 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 |
$89,095±$15kHighest 19% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 |
$259,700±$54kHighest 12% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Palermo and Jackson 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 |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| 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 |
$2,506 17% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
65.6%±100 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest 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% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1988Lowest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.8%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest 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 | — |
| 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.