Compare towns

Baldwin vs Franklin 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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.

MeasureBaldwinFranklinHiram
People
Population
1,170Lowest
1,628
1,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
ME: +2.6%
+5.7%Highest
ME: +2.6%
-0.7%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50.6±4.6Highest
13% above ME
46±9.3
about the ME average
41.6±10.2Lowest
7% below ME
Baldwin and Franklin 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%
16.3%±3.9
ME: 18.1%
20.9%±3.9Highest
ME: 18.1%
Hiram and Franklin 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%
25.6%±3.5
ME: 22.4%
15.7%±2.4Lowest
ME: 22.4%
Baldwin and Franklin 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%
28.5%Highest
ME: 36.2%
25%
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
4.2%±2.6
ME: 5.8%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
ME: 5.8%
Baldwin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,045±$8kHighest
9% below ME
$65,455±$16k
12% below ME
$62,813±$10kLowest
16% below ME
Baldwin and Franklin 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
$245,800±$59kLowest
17% 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 —
$888±$306Lowest
22% below ME
$1,070±$161Highest
6% below ME
Hiram and Franklin 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
$2,231
27% below ME
$2,106Lowest
31% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±42.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
36.7%±27.8
ME: 48.4%
56.4%±24.1Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hiram and Franklin 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%
15.7%Highest
ME: 10.7%
12.6%
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
ME: 74.3%
76.8%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
83.8%
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1984Highest
7 yrs newer than ME
1976Lowest
1 yr older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
32% above ME
29 minLowest
18% above ME
31 min
28% above ME
Work from home
8.8%±4.8
ME: 15.9%
12.2%±5.5Highest
ME: 15.9%
8.6%±3.4Lowest
ME: 15.9%
Franklin and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — RSU 55/MSAD 55
High school 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.