Compare towns
Waldo vs Sumner 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).
Sumner has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Sumner | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 926Highest |
845 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+5.9% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
56.1±8.4Highest 25% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.2%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Sumner 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% |
29.7%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
15.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Waldo and Sumner 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 |
$57,750±$19kLowest 23% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
| Jackson 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 |
$150,000±$73kLowest 49% below ME |
$231,500±$16kHighest 22% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo 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 |
— | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Waldo and Jackson 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 |
$2,167 29% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Sumner and Waldo 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% |
5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
91.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
42 minHighest 72% above ME |
35 min 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±8Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Sumner 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 10 | — |
| High school 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.