Compare towns
Waldo vs Solon 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%).
Solon has the most affordable homes ($184k 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 | Solon | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Lowest |
963 |
1,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.1%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-6.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
45.9±5.4Highest about the ME average |
45.9±6.6Highest about the ME average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±4.6 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Solon 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% |
23.9%±3.6Highest ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
27.5% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,458±$21kHighest 4% below ME |
$69,205±$20k 7% below ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Waldo and Solon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kHighest 30% below ME |
$183,600±$12kLowest 38% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 |
$915±$100Lowest 20% below ME |
$1,116±$112 about the ME average |
| Waldo and Brooks 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 |
$1,854 39% below ME |
$2,096Highest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
14.6%±48.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.7% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
88.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
52 minHighest 113% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±4.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 74/MSAD 74 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.