Compare towns
Baldwin vs Hope vs Clifton
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 housing (typical home built 1979).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k 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 | Hope | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,748Highest |
1,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
44.6±3.1Lowest about the ME average |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above 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% |
23.3%±5.4Highest ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1 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%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.1% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton and Baldwin 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 |
$86,766±$6kHighest 16% above ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
| Hope 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±$38k 11% below ME |
$373,400±$33kHighest 26% above ME |
$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$1,217±$624Lowest 7% above ME |
| Hope and Clifton 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 |
$3,842Highest 27% above ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Hope 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% |
5.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
87.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | — |
| 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.