Compare towns
Baldwin vs Exeter vs Steep Falls
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).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Exeter | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,093Lowest |
1,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.4%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
52.6±7.7Highest 17% above ME |
44.1±6.5Lowest about the ME average |
| Exeter and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3 ME: 18.1% |
9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
22.9%±9.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Steep Falls and Baldwin 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% |
23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Exeter 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% |
15% ME: 36.2% |
14.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±3.8 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$80,280±$33k 7% above ME |
| Exeter and Steep Falls 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 |
$166,700±$39kLowest 44% below ME |
$243,400±$31k 18% below ME |
| Baldwin and Steep Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $995±$386Lowest 13% below ME |
$1,516±$1kHighest 33% above ME |
| Steep Falls and Exeter 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 |
$1,602Lowest 47% below ME |
$3,273Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
66.4%±36.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Steep Falls and Exeter 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% |
8.1%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.2% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
80.2%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1970Lowest 7 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 43% above ME |
31 minLowest 25% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4%±4.9Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.