Compare towns
Baldwin vs Mapleton vs Searsmont vs Milbridge
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).
Searsmont has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Milbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Searsmont | Milbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,646 |
1,222 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+0.6% ME: +2.6% |
+1.6%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
44.5±9.8 about the ME average |
50.3±6.2 12% above ME |
| Baldwin and Milbridge 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% |
13.9%±3.6 ME: 18.1% |
22.5%±4.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Milbridge and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5 ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21%±1.3 ME: 22.4% |
30.2%±5.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Milbridge and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
31.6% ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
10%±6.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Searsmont and Baldwin 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 |
$87,000±$20k 16% above ME |
$60,536±$16kLowest 19% below ME |
| Mapleton and Searsmont 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 |
$284,000±$31kHighest 4% below ME |
$240,400±$31k 19% below ME |
| Searsmont 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 |
$940±$311Highest 17% below ME |
$619±$186 46% below ME |
| Searsmont and Milbridge 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 |
$2,788Highest 8% below ME |
$2,022 33% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
41.4%±41.3 ME: 48.4% |
45.8%±22.6Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Milbridge and Searsmont 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% |
6.6% ME: 10.7% |
18.4%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90.6%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977 same as ME |
1988Highest 11 yrs newer than ME |
1974Lowest 3 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
28 min 13% above ME |
25 min about the ME average |
18 minLowest 26% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
16.3%±10.1 ME: 15.9% |
18.9%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Milbridge and Searsmont 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 71 | RSU 37/MSAD 37 |
| 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.