1st Advantage MortgageThe median Waldo County household earns $72,782, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Maine before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Waldo County
- Housing costs in Waldo County
- Household income in Waldo County
- Work, industries and travel time in Waldo County
- Waldo County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Waldo County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Waldo County
- Who lives in Waldo County, in numbers
- Checklist for Waldo County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Waldo County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Waldo County
With an estimated 40,192 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Waldo County ranks 11th of 16 in Maine for population. Land area is 730 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 55 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Waldo County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Belfast is the biggest of its 26 Census places, at roughly 6,986 people (17% of the county total).
Housing costs in Waldo County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,021 in Waldo County versus $1,139 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. Home values center on $257,700, or 3.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 82%.
| Cost | Waldo County | Maine figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,021/mo | $1,139/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $257,700 | $296,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 74% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 27% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Waldo County
Waldo County households have a median income of $72,782 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 6th of 16 in Maine.
| Yearly household income | Waldo County | Gap to Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.1% | -0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.4% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -3.0 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 12.0% of Waldo County residents in poverty, against 10.7% across Maine. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.433 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Waldo County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Waldo County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. The survey's unemployment rate for Waldo County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.8%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Waldo County | Difference from Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Other services | 5.7% | +1.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Waldo County towns compared
26 Census places fall mainly inside Waldo County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 34,437 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $92,578 at the median in Searsport, $44,583 in Troy. This guide covers each of the 26 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | city | 6,986 | $67,679 | $962 | 6 mi |
| Lincolnville | town | 2,396 | $81,928 | $969 | 13 mi |
| Stockton Springs | town | 1,652 | $74,886 | $1,397 | 14 mi |
| Searsmont | town | 1,646 | $87,000 | $940 | 8 mi |
| Northport | town | 1,621 | $73,523 | $1,088 | 10 mi |
| Palermo | town | 1,473 | $89,095 | $1,235 | 16 mi |
| Thorndike | town | 1,403 | $78,438 | $836 | 10 mi |
| Searsport | CDP | 1,218 | $92,578 | $1,111 | 10 mi |
| Brooks | town | 1,208 | $59,130 | $1,116 | 4 mi |
| Swanville | town | 1,195 | $51,935 | $1,191 | 6 mi |
| Frankfort | town | 1,098 | $80,000 | $850 | 13 mi |
| Winterport | CDP | 1,057 | $75,694 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Monroe | town | 1,001 | $81,300 | $1,165 | 9 mi |
| Troy | town | 984 | $44,583 | $1,255 | 15 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 58 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Waldo County; Sagadahoc County is highest at $87,806 and Androscoggin County lowest at $67,873.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo County | - | $72,782 | $1,021/mo | 82% |
| Knox County, ME | 30 mi | $74,096 | $1,165/mo | 79% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 32 mi | $69,077 | $992/mo | 74% |
| Hancock County, ME | 37 mi | $72,744 | $1,061/mo | 79% |
| Lincoln County, ME | 39 mi | $76,875 | $1,055/mo | 82% |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 53 mi | $87,806 | $1,098/mo | 78% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 58 mi | $67,873 | $1,010/mo | 68% |
Debt-to-income at Waldo County's medians
Waldo County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,065 gross per month ($72,782 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,021 uses 17%
- $1,162: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,587 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Waldo County's.
Borrowing situations common in Waldo County
Where the Waldo County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Waldo County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 47, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Waldo County, in numbers
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, against 6.2% for Maine.
| Waldo County | Maine | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 | 44.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 36.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 5.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.2% | 6.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 10.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.8% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Waldo County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Checklist for Waldo County applicants
Quick steps for Waldo County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Waldo County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Waldo County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Waldo County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Waldo County, check the Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Maine state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Maine guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Waldo County earn?
The median is $72,782; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Waldo County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,021 against $1,139 statewide, and 42% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Waldo County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Belfast, Lincolnville, Stockton Springs, Searsmont, Northport and 21 more.
Can Waldo County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Maine county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Waldo County residents?
The Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Maine; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.