Compare towns
Baldwin vs Mapleton vs Palmyra 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.3%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Palmyra has the most kids (29.2% under 18).
Hiram has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Mapleton | Palmyra | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,884 |
2,209Highest |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-3.1% ME: +2.6% |
-0.7% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME |
41.6±10.2 7% below ME |
| Baldwin and Mapleton 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% |
29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1% |
20.9%±3.9 ME: 18.1% |
| Palmyra 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%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
16.7%±5.3 ME: 22.4% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
4%±2.4 ME: 5.8% |
2.6%±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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 23% above ME |
$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME |
$62,813±$10k 16% below ME |
| Mapleton and Baldwin 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 |
$191,800±$23k 35% below ME |
$154,900±$34kLowest 48% 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 | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$733±$119 36% below ME |
$1,070±$161Highest 6% below ME |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,614Lowest 47% below ME |
$2,106 31% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
47.2%±14.9 ME: 48.4% |
56.4%±24.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Hiram and Palmyra 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% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
9.1% ME: 10.7% |
12.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
82.6% ME: 74.3% |
83.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME |
1976Lowest 1 yr older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
31 min 28% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.6%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
| Mapleton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.