Compare towns
Baldwin vs Dresden 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 expensive homes ($263k median).
Dresden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Dresden | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,645 |
1,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+3.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-0.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
55.1±7.9Highest 23% above ME |
41.6±10.2Lowest 7% below ME |
| Dresden 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% |
17%±3.4 ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Hiram and Dresden 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% |
24.8%±8 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Dresden 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% |
30.5%Highest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Dresden 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 |
$74,844±$22kHighest about the ME average |
$62,813±$10kLowest 16% below ME |
| Dresden 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±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$240,100±$29kLowest 19% 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 | — | $1,194±$502Highest 5% above ME |
$1,070±$161Lowest 6% below ME |
| Dresden and Hiram 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 |
$2,500 18% below ME |
$2,106Lowest 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
13.2%±26Lowest ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Baldwin 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% |
9.3% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
88.2% ME: 74.3% |
83.8%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
33 minHighest 35% above ME |
31 minLowest 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
6.7%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Baldwin and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | RSU 02 | 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.