Compare towns
Baldwin vs Acton vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hiram has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Baldwin | Acton | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
2,721Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
52.9±4.2Highest 18% above ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Acton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
26.2%±4.9 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.2% ME: 36.2% |
25%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.6%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$78,750±$15kHighest 5% above ME |
$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
| Acton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38k 11% below ME |
$334,300±$34kHighest 13% above ME |
$256,600±$42kLowest 13% below ME |
| Acton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,070±$161 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540 16% below ME |
$2,680Highest 12% below ME |
$2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Acton and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
7.8% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
96.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
40 minHighest 64% above ME |
31 minLowest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.2%±8.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Acton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | Acton Public Schools | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.