Compare towns
Baldwin vs Mapleton vs Starks vs Dixmont
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 most expensive homes ($263k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Dixmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
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.
| Measure | Baldwin | Mapleton | Starks | Dixmont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,170 |
1,884Highest |
556Lowest |
1,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
-7.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+2.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
41.8±6Lowest 7% below ME |
46.7±9.4 4% above ME |
50.9±4.7Highest 14% above ME |
| Dixmont 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
16.4%±4.4 ME: 18.1% |
15.9%±4.2 ME: 18.1% |
| Mapleton and Starks 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% |
20.3%±2.2 ME: 22.4% |
19.4%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% ME: 36.2% |
34.3%Highest ME: 36.2% |
21%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
24.7% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9 ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.1%±2.6 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 |
$63,500±$8kLowest 15% below ME |
$75,952±$14k about the ME average |
| Mapleton and Dixmont 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 |
$148,500±$27kLowest 50% below ME |
$190,700±$22k 36% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $610±$277Lowest 46% below ME |
$1,063±$301 7% below ME |
$1,348±$62Highest 18% above ME |
| Dixmont and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540Highest 16% below ME |
$1,789 41% below ME |
$1,348Lowest 56% below ME |
$1,548 49% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
45.5%±90.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
42.2%±70.1 ME: 48.4% |
| Starks and Dixmont 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% |
19.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
7.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
90%Highest ME: 74.3% |
89.7% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
1992Highest 15 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
33 min 33% above ME |
35 minHighest 40% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.9%±11.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Dixmont 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 | — | RSU 19 |
| 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.