County profile · Maine
Waldo County, ME market data
How Waldo County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 40,693
- +2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 17,470
- Median household income
- $72,782
- +40.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $257,700
- Jobs located here
- 11,338
- Highest market score
- 80
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #117 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Waldo County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Waldo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Waldo County has an estimated 40,693 people and 17,470 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Waldo County grew 2.6%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Waldo County is $72,782, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 40.2%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Waldo County runs highest on groceries (an index of 102, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on pets (64).
Of the business types scored in Waldo County, fast food and sandwich shops (80); clothing and shoe stores (80); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #117 of 2,222 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (58% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Waldo County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Waldo County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 80 | #117 of 2,222 | 9 | 5.2 | $7M | 230 | 20 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 80 | #149 of 2,087 | 8 | 4.6 | $4.5M | 354 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 79 | #152 of 2,210 | 17 | 9.7 | $2.1M | 241 | 7 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 76 | #122 of 1,886 | 8 | 4.6 | $2.4M | 246 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 74 | #350 of 2,272 | 8 | 4.6 | $3.7M | 294 | 8 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 72 | #212 of 2,088 | 17 | 9.7 | $785K | 119 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 69 | #243 of 1,769 | 10 | 5.7 | $1.6M | 185 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 69 | #244 of 1,422 | 6 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 134 | 3 |
| Pizza | 69 | #351 of 2,090 | 12 | 6.9 | $5.3M | 104 | 20 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 69 | #397 of 2,405 | 61 | 34.9 | $1M | 156 | 27 |
| Home repair trades | 67 | #282 of 2,057 | 10 | 5.7 | $5.1M | 210 | 38 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 67 | #297 of 2,176 | 23 | 13.2 | Index only | 236 | 16 |
| Real estate | 67 | #306 of 2,229 | 32 | 18.3 | Index only | 214 | 21 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 67 | #381 of 2,385 | 48 | 27.5 | $337K | 159 | 11 |
| Gyms | 66 | #316 of 1,792 | 9 | 5.2 | $1.5M | 114 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 66 | #517 of 2,405 | 140 | 80.1 | $452K | 122 | 60 |
| Hair salons | 65 | #448 of 2,339 | 29 | 16.6 | $558K | 130 | 8 |
| Property management | 56 | #355 of 910 | 7 | 4.0 | Index only | 76 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 56 | #931 of 2,394 | 95 | 54.4 | $204K | 134 | 27 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 55 | #546 of 1,327 | 5 | 2.9 | $3.2M | 102 | 4 |
| Gas stations | 55 | #946 of 2,358 | 16 | 9.2 | $2.3M | 98 | 16 |
| Chiropractors | 53 | #644 of 1,490 | 6 | 3.4 | $3.2M | 135 | 7 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 51 | #796 of 1,771 | 9 | 5.2 | $2.3M | 137 | 36 |
| Convenience stores | 48 | #1,219 of 2,261 | 32 | 18.3 | $3.5M | 45 | 5 |
| Child care and preschools | 45 | #951 of 1,611 | 9 | 5.2 | $915K | 91 | 23 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 43 | #840 of 1,302 | 7 | 4.0 | $2.8M | 88 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 40 | #1,383 of 2,063 | 19 | 10.9 | $3.3M | 90 | 13 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #1,030 of 1,493 | 8 | 4.6 | $2.6M | 88 | 31 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #1,408 of 2,070 | 21 | 12.0 | $5.4M | 58 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 38 | #1,737 of 2,401 | 68 | 38.9 | $232K | 86 | 29 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 37 | #1,730 of 2,402 | 70 | 40.1 | $1.6M | 47 | 17 |
| Veterinarians | 33 | #1,130 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.9 | $2M | 75 | 7 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 32 | #1,573 of 1,889 | 24 | 13.7 | $2.6M | 64 | 13 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 31 | #678 of 777 | 5 | 2.9 | $2.7M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 27 | #2,122 of 2,378 | 54 | 30.9 | $292K | 66 | 23 |
| Pet businesses | 15 | #2,168 of 2,200 | 26 | 14.9 | $391K | 45 | 18 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 13 | #1,426 of 1,461 | 11 | 6.3 | $924K | 36 | 11 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $3.9M | 157 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $12.8M | 268 | 15 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $4M | 242 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $4.8M | 272 | 11 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.3 | $3.9M | 158 | 4 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $17M | 142 | 23 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $895K | 132 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $4.4M | 220 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.7 | $17M | 201 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $8.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $18M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $36M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $20.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Waldo County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $15.8M | $904 | 94 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $37.4M | $2,142 | 83 |
| Food away from home | $63.2M | $3,620 | 89 |
| Groceries | $112.4M | $6,437 | 102 |
| Personal care products and services | $16.2M | $927 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $8.2M | $471 | 81 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $13.3M | $764 | 78 |
| Medical and dental services | $19.3M | $1,107 | 86 |
| Pets | $10.2M | $582 | 64 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $36M | $2,062 | 100 |
| Vehicle insurance | $29.5M | $1,691 | 86 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $51.1M | $2,923 | 97 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $20.7M | $1,185 | 84 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $296.4M | $16,967 | 102 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Waldo County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 40,693+2.6% since 2020
- Households
- 17,470
- Median age
- 46.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 82%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 730 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 55
- Median household income
- $72,782+40.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $91,541
- Median home value
- $257,700
- Jobs located here
- 11,338
- Daytime population
- 35,620Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Waldo County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Waldo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Maine 8
- Knox County, ME41,003 people
- Hancock County, ME56,460 people
- Kennebec County, ME126,808 people
- Penobscot County, ME154,710 people
- Somerset County, ME50,959 people
- Lincoln County, ME36,099 people
- Sagadahoc County, ME37,285 people
- Piscataquis County, ME17,263 people
Questions
How fast is Waldo County, ME growing?
Population estimates put Waldo County at 40,693 people in 2025, up 2.6% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 17,470 households. Median household income rose 40.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Waldo County, ME spend?
Households in Waldo County spend about $296.4M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $112.4M on groceries and $63.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Waldo County spend the most on groceries (an index of 102, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on pets (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Waldo County, ME?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Waldo County are for fast food and sandwich shops (80); clothing and shoe stores (80); and clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (79). Waldo County ranks #117 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
How does Waldo County, ME compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Waldo County is $72,782 a year, 10% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $257,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Waldo County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (58% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 37 of the 56 business types have a score in Waldo County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Waldo County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Waldo County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Waldo County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.