Compare towns
Baldwin vs Hope vs Mapleton vs Swanville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Swanville has the oldest population (median age 53.2).
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 | Swanville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,195 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
+10.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-0.8% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
44.6±3.1 about the ME average |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
53.2±6.4Highest 19% above ME |
| Swanville 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% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
15.2%±4.8 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%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
20.3%±3.3 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
47.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
23.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 9% below ME |
$86,766±$6k 16% above ME |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$51,935±$7kLowest 31% 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 |
$237,300±$36k 20% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,219±$182Highest 7% above ME |
$610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,191±$113 5% above ME |
| Hope and Swanville 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 |
$2,368 22% 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% |
47.5%±33.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Swanville 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% ME: 10.7% |
23%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
92.9%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
91.3% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1989 12 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
20 minLowest 19% below ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
26 min 4% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
18.3%±10.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.7%±4.8 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 | RSU 71 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.