Compare towns
Baldwin vs Appleton vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has the highest household income ($68k).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Appleton | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,360 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
49.2±7.4 10% above ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
15.3%±2.7 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Appleton 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% |
26.1%±9.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Appleton 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% |
34.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8kHighest 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82Highest 3% below ME |
$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
| Appleton and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540 16% below ME |
$3,588Highest 18% above ME |
$2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
85.4%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Appleton 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% |
9.7% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 minLowest 23% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Appleton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Appleton 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.