Compare towns
Waldo vs Windham vs Union 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).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Windham | Union | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 926 |
19,188Highest |
2,663 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+8.4% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±1.8Highest 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
| Windham and Union 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% |
19.2%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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% |
15.9%±2.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Union 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% |
44.2%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
3.9%±1.1Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Windham and Union 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 |
$107,934±$14kHighest 44% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$75,167±$19k about the ME average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
$388,900±$22kHighest 31% above ME |
$267,600±$42k 10% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$691 about the ME average |
$1,232±$332Highest 8% above ME |
$1,179±$452 4% above ME |
$629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
| Windham and Union 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 |
$3,938Highest 30% above ME |
$3,276 8% above ME |
$2,651 13% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Windham 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% |
3.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
85.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 20% below ME |
26 min 7% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.2 ME: 15.9% |
19%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3 ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Windham and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Waldo-Region 7 | RSU 14 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.