Compare towns
Baldwin vs Oakland vs Clifton
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).
Oakland has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($203k median).
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 | Oakland | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170 |
6,309Highest |
1,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3% ME: +2.6% |
-0.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6 13% above ME |
40.2±6.9Lowest 10% below ME |
52.7±7.1Highest 18% above ME |
| Clifton 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% |
23.8%±5.2Highest ME: 18.1% |
16%±7.1 ME: 18.1% |
| Oakland and Clifton 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% |
18.2%±3.4Lowest ME: 22.4% |
21.2%±7.1 ME: 22.4% |
| Baldwin and Clifton 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% |
24.4% ME: 36.2% |
26.1%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2 ME: 5.8% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest ME: 5.8% |
8.6%±8.5Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Clifton 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±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$77,813±$16kHighest 4% above ME |
$70,313±$16k 6% below ME |
| Oakland and Clifton 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 |
$236,000±$23k 20% below ME |
$202,500±$67kLowest 32% below ME |
| Baldwin and Oakland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $939±$74Lowest 18% below ME |
$1,217±$624Highest 7% above ME |
| Clifton and Oakland 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 |
$2,439 20% below ME |
$1,838Lowest 39% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9Lowest ME: 48.4% |
65.7%±14.7 ME: 48.4% |
81.3%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Clifton and Oakland 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% |
8.1% ME: 10.7% |
9.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
87.5% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 32% above ME |
27 minLowest 8% above ME |
29 min 19% above ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8 ME: 15.9% |
8.4%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9% |
9.1%±3.4Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Clifton and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #23 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | — | RSU 18 | — |
| High school in town | — | Messalonskee High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.2 |
— |
| 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.