Compare towns
Baldwin vs Appleton vs Union 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 most homeowners (89%).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Union has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Hiram has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Union | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,360 |
2,663Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% 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±5.3Lowest 7% below 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% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Union and Hiram 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% |
21.4%±3.1 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% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%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% |
3.5%±1.5 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±$8k 9% below ME |
$53,618±$19kLowest 28% below ME |
$80,724±$9kHighest 8% above ME |
$62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
| Union 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 |
$235,600±$33kLowest 21% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$256,600±$42k 13% below ME |
| Union and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,104±$82 3% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
| Union and Appleton 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 |
$3,276 8% 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% |
24.6%±19.8 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% |
10.2% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
30 min 23% above ME |
29 minLowest 20% above ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
11.1%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.