Compare towns
Baldwin vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Cornish
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).
Hope has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Cornish has the youngest population (median age 39).
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 | Mapleton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+7.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
39±8.5Lowest 13% below ME |
| Baldwin and Hope 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
18.2%±3.3 ME: 18.1% |
| Hope and Mapleton 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%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
17.4%±4.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
2.8%±1.4 ME: 5.8% |
| Baldwin and Mapleton 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±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$69,038±$4k 8% below ME |
| Mapleton and Hope 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$274,200±$84k 8% below ME |
| Hope and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,196±$148 5% above ME |
| Hope and Cornish 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$2,309 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
37.8%±38.7 ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
48.8%±17.5Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Cornish 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% |
8.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.3% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
31 min 27% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.5%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hope and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.