Waldo County, Maine: commercial real estate data.
Waldo County, Maine had an estimated 40,617 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,602, across 730 square miles. County output reached $2.00 bn in 2024, 1,003 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 38 7(a) approvals worth $7.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Waldo County
How many people live in Waldo County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,192
- Households17,470
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$72,782
- Median age47.4
- Median gross rent$1,021 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$257,700
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over30,224
- Population under 187,124
- Share under 1817.7 percent
- Population 65 and over10,091
- Share 65 and over25.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6422,977
- Civilian labor force19,647
- Unemployment rate3.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.4 percent
- Rank by population among Maine counties11th of 16
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1201st of 3,222
Waldo County is the 11th largest of 16 Maine counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 25.1 percent against 17.7 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Waldo County
Is Waldo County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202440,617
- Census 2020 base population39,602
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.56 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024127
- Births, 2024293
- Deaths, 2024503
- Natural change, 2024-210
- Net domestic migration, 2024306
- Net international migration, 202432
- Total net migration, 2024338
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,652
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents991st of 3,144
The county has grown 2.56 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Waldo County
Where are people moving to Waldo County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,333
- People arriving, from those returns2,216
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,034
- Net household movement299
- Adjusted gross income arriving$108.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$44.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$81,272
- Average income of a leaving household$61,707
- Largest single originPenobscot County (173 households)
- Largest single destinationPenobscot County (222 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penobscot County | 173 | 274 | $8.5 m |
| Knox County | 138 | 230 | $9.2 m |
| Kennebec County | 108 | 189 | $4.9 m |
| Hancock County | 70 | 109 | $3.3 m |
| Cumberland County | 66 | 108 | $5.1 m |
| Somerset County | 51 | 85 | $1.8 m |
| Lincoln County | 28 | 38 | $1.4 m |
| York County | 21 | 29 | $770,000 |
Households arriving report $19,565 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Penobscot County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Waldo County
What is the Waldo County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.00 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.94 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.8 percent
- GDP change over five years30.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Maine areas BEA publishes12th of 16
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1284th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$49,716
Output grew 2.8 percent in the latest year and 30.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Waldo County
Employment by industry in Waldo County
- Covered employment, annual average11,273
- Establishments reporting1,459
- Average annual pay$54,674
- Average weekly wage$1,051
- Retail trade, employment1,681
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,692
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,622
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,809
- Manufacturing, employment1,081
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$56,492
- Management of companies and enterprises, employment921
- Management of companies and enterprises, average annual pay$82,927
- Accommodation and food services, employment836
- Finance and insurance, employment556
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,681 | 150 | $37,692 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,622 | 126 | $61,809 |
| Manufacturing | 1,081 | 54 | $56,492 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 921 | 70 | $82,927 |
| Accommodation and food services | 836 | 91 | $28,315 |
| Finance and insurance | 556 | 35 | $87,145 |
| Other services, except public administration | 467 | 116 | $43,757 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 376 | 203 | $86,585 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,681 jobs, 14.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Waldo County
How many businesses are in Waldo County?
- Establishments, all industries1,003
- Employment at those establishments9,273
- Annual payroll$507.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Waldo County
Building permits in Waldo County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024145
- Declared construction value permitted$44.7 m
- Single family units authorized145
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$308,113
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Waldo County
SBA loans in Waldo County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded38
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$7.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$202,450
- Median 7(a) approval$108,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$364,500
- Largest single approval$1,517,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)243
- Jobs per approval6.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals26
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer18.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter31
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLandscaping Services (4)
- Most active lenderBangor Savings Bank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded25
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.7 m
- Average 504 approval$469,640
- Median 504 approval$255,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.5
- Most active CDCGranite State Economic Development Corporation (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$19.4 m
The average approval of $202,450 sits well above the median of $108,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 18.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Waldo County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Waldo County
Do SBA loans in Waldo County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded15
- Paid in full14
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full14
- Status: Exempt from disclosure20
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 15 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Waldo County
SBA lending by place in Waldo County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending15
- Belfast, approvals6
- Winterport, approvals5
- Lincolnville, approvals3
- Unity, approvals3
- Islesboro, approvals3
- Thorndike, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 6 | $1,337,000 |
| Winterport | 5 | $2,250,800 |
| Lincolnville | 3 | $892,500 |
| Unity | 3 | $400,400 |
| Islesboro | 3 | $371,000 |
| Thorndike | 3 | $294,400 |
| Liberty | 2 | $597,100 |
| Burnham | 2 | $458,300 |
| 7 other borrower cities | 11 | $1,091,600 |
Belfast accounts for 6 approvals against 5 in Winterport. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Waldo County
How large is Waldo County?
- Land area730 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Maine counties12th of 16
- Width, east to west35.1 mi
- Height, north to south36.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land55
- Establishments per square mile1.37
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Waldo County
Flood risk in Waldo County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book28
- Of those, participating in the NFIP26
- NFIP participation rate92.9 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Waldo County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Waldo County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 92.9 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Waldo County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Waldo County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202440,192
- Households17,470
- Average household size2.30
- Median household income$72,782
- Median age47.4
Common questions
Waldo County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Waldo County, Maine?
The Census Bureau estimates 40,617 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 40,192, in 17,470 households, ranking 11th of 16 Maine counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Waldo County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.56 percent since the 2020 census base of 39,602, to 40,617 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 293 births against 503 deaths, with net migration of 338. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Waldo County?
$72,782. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $257,700, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,021 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Waldo County?
1,003 establishments, employing 9,273 people with an annual payroll of $507.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Waldo County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,681 jobs, 14.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,273 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,674, or $1,051 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Waldo County?
38 7(a) approvals totaling $7.7 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $108,000, plus 25 504 approvals worth $11.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Waldo County?
145 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $44.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Waldo County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Waldo County come from?
The largest single origin is Penobscot County, with 173 households. Arriving households report an average income of $81,272 against $61,707 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Waldo County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Waldo County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Waldo County
Cities and places in Waldo.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Waldo County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | city | 6,986 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Searsport | CDP | 1,218 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Winterport | CDP | 1,057 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Unity | CDP | 333 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 23 of the county's 38 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Waldo County, the largest being Lincolnville (3), Islesboro (3), Thorndike (3). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby