Waldo County, Maine
A shallow water table limits basements on 57% of Waldo County's mapped land, a higher share than 72% of US counties and the 8th highest of 16 Maine counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 27 flood losses here since 2016. 47% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1982.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Waldo County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 56.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 86.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 492,723 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | 21% | n/a |
| Lyman | 9% | n/a |
| Marlow | 9% | n/a |
| Brayton | 9% | n/a |
| Boothbay | 7% | n/a |
| Tunbridge | 7% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ME027 (2025-08-29)
What the numbers mean here
On 57% of Waldo County's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 35.79 in, 11.46 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 47.25 in.
USDA rates 87% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 49 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 41 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 100% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 12% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
27 flood losses since 2016, $1.0 million paid. The worst year was 2024, with 11.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 47.25 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 35.79 in (-11.46) |
| 2025 | 40.79 in (-6.46) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2005: 68.01 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 2001: 27.11 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at BELFAST (8 mi away) | 13.9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 22,252 |
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Built before 1980 | 47% |
| Built 2000 or later | 27% |
| Owner-occupied | 82% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $257,700 |
| Single-family detached | 75% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County, ME | 30 mi | 0% | 42% |
| Kennebec County, ME | 32 mi | 0% | 59% |
| Hancock County, ME | 37 mi | 0% | 47% |
| Lincoln County, ME | 39 mi | 0% | 43% |
| Sagadahoc County, ME | 53 mi | 0% | 38% |
| Androscoggin County, ME | 58 mi | 0% | 45% |
| Penobscot County, ME | 68 mi | 0% | 68% |
| Franklin County, ME | 73 mi | 0% | 58% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 29, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status