Compare towns
Baldwin vs Clifton vs Mapleton vs Unity
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 expensive homes ($263k median).
Clifton has the oldest population (median age 52.7).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Unity is a college town. 30% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Clifton | Mapleton | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,111Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,858 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+9.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
27.5±2.2Lowest 39% below ME |
| Clifton 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% |
16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
14%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Clifton 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% |
21.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
11.8%±3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
30%±4.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8k 9% below ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$62,857±$6kLowest 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Clifton 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 |
$202,500±$67k 32% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$206,900±$28k 30% below ME |
| Baldwin and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$873±$73 23% below ME |
| Clifton and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,838 39% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,510 17% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
44.8%±13 ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Unity 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% |
9.2% ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
17.3%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
79.9% ME: 74.3% |
72.3%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.8%±7.6Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Unity and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 · Ecology Learning Center |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Ecology Learning Ctr |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.4 |
| 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.