Compare towns
Waldo vs Wayne vs Mapleton 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%).
Wayne has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Mapleton | Brooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926Lowest |
1,101 |
1,884Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-5% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-6.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
55.6±5.3Highest 24% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
45.9±6.6 about the ME average |
| Wayne and Brooks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.5 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.2 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% ME: 36.2% |
48.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
27.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
6.5%±2.8 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
6.8%±3.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Brooks and Wayne 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 |
$93,194±$26kHighest 25% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$59,130±$10kLowest 21% below ME |
| Wayne 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 |
$362,800±$29kHighest 22% above ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$196,700±$33k 34% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
$983±$554 14% below ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% 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 |
$3,289Highest 8% above ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$2,096 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
25%±52.1 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18%±17.3 ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Wayne 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% |
7.9%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
19.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
89.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
74.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1980 3 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
30 minHighest 24% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
26.2%±11.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
14.5%±2.9 ME: 15.9% |
| Wayne 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 38 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.