County · Maine

Waldo County, Maine

Waldo County, Maine. Waldo County had 40,693 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.7% since 2020, slower than Maine (+3.8%). It holds 29 places (1 city, village or borough, 25 towns and townships and 3 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 23027.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

40,693

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 39,607 · ACS 2020-2024: 40,192

Median household income

$72,782

±$3,352 (90% margin)
Maine: $74,733

Median home value

$257,700

±$10,501 (90% margin)
Maine: $296,600

Median gross rent

$1,021

±$78 (90% margin)
Maine: $1,139

How many people live in Waldo County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 39,607 residents in Waldo County. The Census Bureau estimates 40,693 for July 1, 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, slower than Maine (+3.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 40,192 over 730 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +322 (39,988)
2021→2022 +208 (40,196)
2022→2023 +279 (40,475)
2023→2024 +136 (40,611)
2024→2025 +82 (40,693)

Waldo County in Maine. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Waldo County	Maine	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	40,192	1,387,817	+653
Households	17,470±343	597,159	no clear change
Average household size	2.25±0.04	2.26	no clear change
Housing units	22,252±70	751,876	−203

Waldo County's population since 2000

From 36,280 in 2000 to 40,693 in 2025: up 12.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 36,280
2005 (estimate) 38,410
2010 Census 38,786
2015 (estimate) 39,143
2020 Census 39,607
2025 (estimate) 40,693

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Waldo County?

Waldo County holds 29 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place), 25 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Belfast with 6,988 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Waldo County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Belfast	city	6,938	6,986±17	$67,679	$340,900	16.0%	100%
Winterport	town	3,817	3,850±16	$98,333	$283,000	5.7%	100%
Searsport	town	2,649	2,655±14	$64,303	$224,400	14.6%	100%
Lincolnville	town	2,312	2,396±338	$81,928	$367,000	11.8%	100%
Unity	town	2,292	1,858±250	$62,857	$206,900	17.3%	100%
Palermo	town	1,570	1,473±218	$89,095	$259,700	4.8%	100%
Northport	town	1,550	1,621±210	$73,523	$343,400	5.9%	100%
Stockton Springs	town	1,533	1,652±268	$74,886	$259,100	14.5%	100%
Searsmont	town	1,400	1,646±407	$87,000	$284,000	6.6%	100%
Swanville	town	1,377	1,195±199	$51,935	$237,300	23.0%	100%
Winterport CDPGEOID 2386725	CDP	1,355	1,057±302	$75,694	$302,800	9.0%	100%
Frankfort	town	1,231	1,098±254	$80,000	$211,300	16.4%	100%
Burnham	town	1,096	953±211	$59,261	$178,100	13.6%	100%
Montville	town	1,020	907±190	$65,735	$221,600	10.7%	100%
Troy	town	1,018	984±197	$44,583	$213,000	17.8%	100%
Brooks	town	1,010	1,208±235	$59,130	$196,700	19.1%	100%
Searsport CDP	CDP	999	1,218±301	$92,578	$363,200	19.9%	100%
Belmont	town	976	876±159	$61,250	$217,500	4.3%	100%
Morrill	town	971	914±135	$74,250	$214,000	6.3%	100%
Liberty	town	934	969±195	$71,146	$229,600	14.8%	100%
Monroe	town	931	1,001±174	$81,300	$220,300	11.3%	100%
Knox	town	811	825±157	$64,821	$159,600	8.6%	100%
Waldo	town	795	926±185	$71,458	$208,000	10.4%	100%
Thorndike	town	774	1,403±645	$78,438	$205,600	6.5%	100%
Freedom	town	711	670±118	$64,861	$190,600	11.5%	100%
Prospect	town	698	923±206	$81,250	$196,500	7.3%	100%
Jackson	town	610	567±110	$75,167	$231,500	13.8%	100%
Islesboro	town	583	636±171	$88,438	$288,800	15.1%	100%
Unity CDPGEOID 2378220	CDP	448	333±112	not published	$177,600	24.3%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Waldo County?

The median resident of Waldo County is 47.4 years old; 17.7% are under 18 and 25.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.0%. 2.3% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Waldo County	Maine	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	47.4±0.3	44.8	+1.2
Under 18 years	17.7%	18.1%	–
65 years and over	25.1%±0.1 pts	22.4%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%	2.2%	+0.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	92.8%±0.8 pts	89.9%	−2.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	1.8%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.1 pts	1.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.0%±0.8 pts	4.2%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.2 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.3%±0.7 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.4%±1.5 pts	6.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.6%±0.8 pts	8.4%	–
With a disability	16.8%±1.1 pts	15.8%	–
No health insurance coverage	9.2%±1.9 pts	6.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	93.6%±1.0 pts	94.8%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	34.4%±2.0 pts	36.2%	+3.0 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	14.4%±1.2 pts	13.7%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.4%±0.5 pts	2.7%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Waldo County earn?

Half of Waldo County's 17,470 households earn less than $72,782 a year (±$3,352), against $74,733 in Maine. In 2015-2019 the median was $63,911 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,871 after inflation. 12.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Waldo County	Maine	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$72,782±$3,352	$74,733	+$8,871
Mean household income	$91,541±$4,058	$100,102	–
Per capita income	$40,336±$1,764	$43,742	+$3,816
People below the poverty line	12.0%±1.6 pts	10.7%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	15.1%±4.1 pts	13.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	12.5%±1.4 pts	12.0%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	89.5%±1.5 pts	90.3%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Waldo County?

Owners occupy 81.9% of Waldo County's occupied homes and renters 18.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $257,700 by its owner (±$10,501). The median renter pays $1,021 a month including utilities, and 33.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Waldo County	Maine	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$257,700±$10,501	$296,600	+$57,097
Median gross rent	$1,021±$78	$1,139	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	33.5%±6.2 pts	37.9%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,542±$65	$1,729	–
Owner-occupied homes	81.9%±1.8 pts	74.3%	+2.7 pts
Housing units	22,252±70	751,876	−203
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.7%	–
Rental vacancy rate	7.7%±4.2 pts	4.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	75.0%±1.8 pts	70.0%	–
Mobile homes	13.1%±1.5 pts	8.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	2.0%±0.7 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	21.6%±2.0 pts	22.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Waldo County building?

Builders took permits for 167 new housing units across Waldo County in 2025 (157 single-family), 4.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 92 units
2020 127 units
2021 140 units
2022 133 units
2023 180 units
2024 145 units
2025 167 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Waldo County get to work?

72.0% of Waldo County's workers drive alone and 15.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Waldo County	Maine	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	58.1%±1.4 pts	61.7%	–
Unemployment rate	3.7%±0.8 pts	3.8%	−1.8 pts
Drove alone to work	72.0%±2.4 pts	70.8%	–
Carpooled	7.8%±1.4 pts	7.9%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.3 pts	0.5%	–
Walked	3.3%±0.8 pts	3.4%	–
Worked from home	15.6%±1.9 pts	15.9%	+7.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.6 min±1.4	24.6 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Waldo County's census tracts?

Waldo County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $62,333 (Tract 460.02) to $98,333 (Tract 410).

Census tracts of Waldo County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 41023027041000	Winterport (39%)	3,817	3,850±16	$98,333	$283,000	not published	5.7%
Tract 42023027042000	Searsport (11%)	6,111	6,328±436	$73,187	$229,100	$1,132	13.8%
Tract 43023027043000	Belfast	6,938	6,986±17	$67,679	$340,900	$962	16.0%
Tract 44023027044000	–	4,445	4,653±351	$80,853	$356,200	$968	10.2%
Tract 45023027045000	–	6,112	6,137±402	$71,340	$229,100	$887	8.4%
Tract 460.0123027046001	–	2,281	2,143±199	$80,417	$245,900	$1,161	6.9%
Tract 460.0223027046002	Unity (5%)	5,180	5,198±617	$62,333	$204,400	$973	13.4%
Tract 47023027047000	–	4,723	4,897±327	$65,581	$217,400	$1,107	16.2%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Waldo County compare with Maine's other counties?

Waldo County's rank among Maine's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	11th of 16
Growth 2020-2025	12th of 16
Residents per square mile	8th of 16
Median household income	6th of 16
Median home value	7th of 16
Median gross rent	8th of 16
Poverty rate	9th of 16
Bachelor's degree or higher	7th of 16
Median age	8th of 16

Every county in Maine

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Waldo County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.