Compare towns

Baldwin vs Mapleton vs Hope

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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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.

MeasureBaldwinMapletonHope
People
Population
1,170Lowest
1,884Highest
1,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.3%
ME: +2.6%
-3.2%Lowest
ME: +2.6%
+10.5%Highest
ME: +2.6%
Median age
50.6±4.6Highest
13% above ME
41.8±6Lowest
7% below ME
44.6±3.1
about the ME average
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%
22.2%±5.1
ME: 18.1%
23.3%±5.4Highest
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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
ME: 22.4%
21.1%±1.3
ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.7%Lowest
ME: 36.2%
34.3%
ME: 36.2%
47.4%Highest
ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±2.2Highest
ME: 5.8%
5%±2.9
ME: 5.8%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
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
$91,731±$25kHighest
23% above ME
$86,766±$6k
16% above 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
$191,800±$23kLowest
35% below ME
$373,400±$33kHighest
26% above ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
46% below ME
$1,219±$182Highest
7% above ME
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,540
16% below ME
$1,789Lowest
41% below ME
$3,842Highest
27% above ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±42.9Lowest
ME: 48.4%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
ME: 48.4%
37.8%±38.7Highest
ME: 48.4%
Hope and Baldwin 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%
8.9%Highest
ME: 10.7%
5.3%Lowest
ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
ME: 74.3%
79.9%Lowest
ME: 74.3%
92.9%Highest
ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
2 yrs newer than ME
1977Lowest
same as ME
1991Highest
14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
32% above ME
28 min
13% above ME
20 minLowest
19% below ME
Work from home
8.8%±4.8Lowest
ME: 15.9%
10.8%±3.8
ME: 15.9%
18.3%±10.2Highest
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 — RSU 79/MSAD 01 Hope Public Schools
High school in town — None 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.