Compare towns
Alna vs Baldwin vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Mercer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Alna | Baldwin | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818 |
1,170Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 9% below ME |
50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
43.4±4.5 3% below ME |
| Baldwin and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
20.1%±6.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
25.9%±5.6 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16kHighest 25% above ME |
$68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$71,107±$2k 5% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55kHighest 24% above ME |
$263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$238,500±$32kLowest 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 4% below ME |
— | $1,422±$249Highest 25% above ME |
| Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667Highest 21% above ME |
$2,540 16% below ME |
$1,970Lowest 35% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
18.5%±74 ME: 48.4% |
| Alna and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
6.4% ME: 10.7% |
13.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% ME: 74.3% |
89%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
92.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 41% above ME |
32 min 32% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
20.5%±8.9Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Mercer and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.