Compare towns
Baldwin vs Cornish vs Peru
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Cornish | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,803Highest |
1,501 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+7.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.4%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
39±8.5Lowest 13% below ME |
48±7.6 7% above ME |
| Baldwin and Peru 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% |
18.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.8%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Peru and Cornish 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% |
17.4%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.7%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
21.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Peru 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 |
$69,038±$4kHighest 8% below ME |
$66,827±$19kLowest 11% below ME |
| Cornish 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 |
$274,200±$84kHighest 8% below ME |
$141,300±$38kLowest 52% below ME |
| Cornish and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,196±$148Highest 5% above ME |
$723±$16Lowest 37% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$2,309 24% below ME |
$1,799Lowest 41% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
21.7%±37.5 ME: 48.4% |
| Cornish and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% ME: 10.7% |
6.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
82.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.2%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1976 1 yr older than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
29 minLowest 18% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.2%±4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Peru and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | RSU 56 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.