Compare towns
Baldwin vs Mapleton vs Porter vs Union
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).
Porter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
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 | Porter | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,884 |
1,746 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+6.8%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+5.5% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
40.9±7.9Lowest 9% below ME |
41.6±5.3 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% |
16.8%±4 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Union 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% |
20.4%±3.2 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
14%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
3.7%±1.7 ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$60,417±$9kLowest 19% below ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
| Mapleton and Union 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 |
$226,100±$20k 24% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
| Union and Baldwin 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 |
— | $1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
| Union and Mapleton 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 |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$1,841 39% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
43.9%±8.7Highest ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8 ME: 48.4% |
| Porter and Union 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% |
9.8% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.4% ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1979Highest 2 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
32 min 30% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.5%±5.4 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Porter 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 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.